Norway forward Mohammed Abdellaoue's first international goal Friday gave his team a 2-1 come from behind win over Iceland in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.
The Hannover striker split two defenders at the top of the box in the 75th minute before coolly sliding the ball past goalkeeper Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson in a wet and windy match.
Heidar Helguson gave Iceland the lead in the 38th minute, tapping in a low cross from Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson. The goal was a rare moment of action in an otherwise uneventful first half that saw Iceland and Norway evenly matched, with the latter lacking the finesse exhibited last month in its 2-1 victory over France.
"I almost couldn't believe that I was the manager for the team I saw in the first 15 minutes," Norway manager Egil Olsen said.
But the Norwegians took control in the second half, scoring twice in just over 15 minutes to secure the win. Norway leveled in the 59th minute, when captain Brede Hangeland used his height to out-jump Gunnleifsson and head in a corner from AS Roma defender John Arne Riise.
Five minutes after his game-winning goal, Abdellaoue had a chance to put Norway up 3-1, but managed to launch the ball into the stands from only a couple yards off the goal line.
The 24-year-old was tapped to start after Norway announced that a persistent knee injury would keep Aston Villa striker John Carew out of the match.
"It was good to see that one go into the goal," Abdellaoue said. "And nice to score my first international goal."
Lineups:
Iceland: Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson, Solvi Ottesen, Kristjan Sigurdsson, Indridi Sigurdsson, Gretar Steinsson (Birkir Bjarnason, 76), Johann Gudmundsson (Rurik Gislason, 87), Veigar Pall Gunnarsson (Arnor Sveinn Adalsteinsson, 76), Heidar Helguson, Eggert Gunnthor Jonnson, Aron Einar Gunnarsson, Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson.
Norway: Jon Knudsen, Tom Hogli, Kjetil Waehler, Brede Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Bjorn Helge Riise (Steffen Iversen, 57), Henning Hauger, Mohammed Abdellaoue (Jan Gunnar Solli, 88), Morten Gamst Pedersen, Christian Grindheim, Erik Huseklepp (Espen Ruud, 76).
