Norway's Erik Huseklepp scored a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw against Denmark and stay top of European Championship qualifying Group H on Saturday.
The surprise group leader looked unlikely to salvage anything from the game after Dennis Rommedahl gave the visitors the lead in the 27th minute. Rommedahl silenced the Oslo crowd when he drove a fierce volley into the top-right corner after Norway failed to clear from a corner.
With time running out, Norway coach Egil Olsen replaced defender Espen Ruud with striker Daniel Braaten in the 78th in an attempt to add attacking impetus, and the switch paid off with almost immediate effect. Just three minutes after coming on, Braaten threaded a pass through to Erik Huseklepp, who guided a left-footed shot beyond Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
The Norwegian coach said he was disappointed with his team's overall performance but delighted to snatch a point.
''It was very important that we got the equalizer,'' said Egil Olsen. ''It could prove crucial.''
His Danish counterpart, Morten Olsen, also felt his players came up short of their potential.
''We can play much better football,'' Olsen told the Ritzau agency. ''Our decision-making high up the pitch needs to be better.''
Norway got off to the brighter start in a match that was low on chances, but it was the Danes who came closest to opening the scoring when Christian Eriksen's goal-bound shot deflected off Kjetil Waehler for a corner in the 13th.
Norwegian midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen then struck a free kick straight at Sorensen.
The match was lacking the intensity anticipated in an all-Scandinavian matchup, but Rommedahl raised the stakes with his wonder strike.
Norway pushed players forward for the rest of the first half but remained toothless in attack, as Mohammed Abdellaoue struggled to fill the gap left by target man John Carew, who was ruled out of the match with a back injury.
Denmark's traveling supporters cheered every pass as the visitors took control at the start of the second half and Norway's attacks fizzled out.
Sorensen was having a quiet night, but the Danish keeper stayed alert and rushed out to save when Abdellaoue attempted a lob from close range in the 55th.
Denmark almost extended its lead when Rommedahl found space on the right wing and cut back a pass for Michael Krohn-Dehli, but the midfielder shot high over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
Rommedahl came close to scoring another spectacular goal from distance in the 73rd, but his right-footed shot hit the bar and went behind for a goal kick.
After three straight wins to open the campaign, including a 1-0 win over group favorite Portugal, Norway seemed on the verge of its first defeat. But Olsen's shrewd substitution and Huseklepp's calm finish kept Norway at the summit of Group H with 10 points from four games.
Denmark and Portugal each have seven points, with the Danes trailing in third on goal difference. Cyprus was fourth on two points after a 0-0 draw with Iceland, which earned its first point.
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Lineups:
Norway: Rune Jarstein, Espen Ruud (Daniel Braaten, 78), Kjetil Waehler, Brede Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Bjorn Helge Riise, Erik Huseklepp (Steffen Iversen, 89), Henning Hauger, Christian Grindheim, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Mohammed Abdellaoue.
Denmark: Thomas Sorensen, Lars Jacobsen, Mathias Zanka Jorgensen, Daniel Agger, Michael Silberbauer, William Kvist, Christian Poulsen (Jakob Poulsen, 70), Dennis Rommedahl (Daniel Wass, 90), Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli (Thomas Enevoldsen, 82), Nicklas Bendtner.
