Scotland produced a stunning turnaround to take full control of Euro 2024 qualifying Group A and leave Norway and Erling Haaland facing the prospect of watching on the couch.
The Man City star's penalty after a soft award looked like getting Stale Solbakken's side back into the hunt for qualification against a Scotland team that had struggled to cause many problems. But a late double salvo left the Scandinavian's spewing and the Scots' 100 per cent record intact thanks to Lyndon Dykes and Kenny McLean off the bench, whose goals secured one of our most important, if scarcely deserved victories that could see us making the journey to Germany.
Norway spurned a big chance after 12 minutes. Fortunately for Scotland, Alexander Sorloth's was on the end of an early cross rather than his strike partner, and his header was straight at Angus Gunn, who's 100 per cent clean sheet record for his country remained in tact when it really should have been ended.
Scotland's first sight of goal came after half-an-hour. Andy Robertson's knock down was met with force by John McGinn, but his volley was well blocked when anything on target had a real chance.
Jack Hendry survived a slight penalty scare before the hour when he got to grips with Haaland in the area, The big striker took a knee rather than going down fully, but was waved up and a swift VAR check gave the ref no cause to change his mind. Jug did point to the spot when Haaland went down under a challenge from Porteous. It looked soft, but the centre back was booked and Haaland had the chance to open the scoring from the spot, which he made no mistake with, despite Gunn getting close.
Sub Liam Cooper was relieved when a striker deflected off his shoulder. It looked goalbound but thankfully for Gunn it spun wide of the far post.
Thankfully, Scotland's first real clear cut chance brought a leveller. It wasn't pretty, but no-one of a Scottish persuasion cared as Dykes punished the hosts for a bad defensive lapse and stabbed the ball home to square things up.
Our second won it with two minutes to go. With Haaland off the park, Clarke's boys completed a turnaround no-one could see coming. A ball to the back post was met by McGinn, who's volley across goal was controlled by Dykes. He teed up McLean and the Norwich man was cool as you like in the Oslo heat to steer the ball home and send the travelling Tartan Army tonto.
We're the famous Tartan Army and we're off to Germany?
A draw would have done, but all three points leaves us six clear of Spain, who have a game in hand. Crucially though, Norway are eight behind and even second place looks beyond them now. It's firmly in our hands and realistically, can only be thrown away from such a strong position.
Famous last words and all that. And Georgia have thrown a major spanner in the works more than once before. But that unexpected result against Spain at Hampden and the incredible turnaround in Oslo has left us with breathing space we've barely dreamt of in previous qualifying campaigns.
Super subs
With Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet on the bench, as well as Serie A scorer Lewis Ferguson, Steve Clarke's triple sub call had many scratching their heads. But it just shows that Stevie knows best, as persevering with Dykes paid off and the introduction of McLean was inspired, as the duo took just minutes to leave the Ullevaal Stadion stunned.
The change of shape worked. Norway thought they'd done enough and given the evidence of the previous 88 minutes, it was a fair assumption. But better late than never and it was one of the most enjoyable ends to the least enjoyable games we've seen from the national team for some time.
Rotten ref
Slovenian Matej Jug was not a popular man amongst the Scotland side. His display was the definition of what punters would call a "homer."
Seemingly happy to let late Norwegian tackles go, and an early one from Ryan Christie, he was quick to pull out a yellow for McGinn after an innocuous trip in a nothing area of the park. He incurred Andy Robertson's wrath after the break, cautioning the Scotland skipper for seemingly throwing his arms in the air, after he was penalised for a tackle on Frederik Aursnes that saw him win the ball.
The penalty he awarded Haaland to open the scoring seemed on the soft side. He'd already ignored one claim from the Man City superstar, and didn't seem likely to stand up to a further claim. Ignoring what seemed a clear foul on Hickey just outside the Norway D only underlined Scotland's sense of frustration.
The Haaland hangover
He won the penalty and scored to out his team ahead, but in reality the Norwegian poster boy was quiet. He was physical and played on the shoulder, but it was the display of a man who's done his main job for the season and spent the bulk of last weekend partying. The weight of expectation will be heavy on his shoulders, but with only Martin Odegaard really to pull the strings behind him, the most feared striker in Europe isn't half easier to handle than he is with Pep's players providing the ammunition behind him.
The Georgia curse
Surely they can't throw us off course again? When you look at the table, a slip up on Tuesday wouldn't be the fatality it has been against or Eastern European friends in the past. But taking care of business keeps us firmly in the driving seat, with Norway at home to Cyprus and expected to finally register their first win of the campaign.
Spain are on Nations League duty and while having games in hand can be, well, handy, we can well afford a defeat away to the group favourites and still qualify as group winners. Had we been offered that back in March, hands would have been bitten off quicker than you can say "zwei bier bitte."
