Scotland 3-3 Norway: Mohamed Elyounoussi salvages late share of the spoils for Norway in Glasgow

Scotland played their final match of their EURO2024 qualification campaign in front of a euphoric bumper crowd at Hampden Park – and the home faithful would hope for a triumphant result given that Norway would be without Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland.

SCO: Clark; Patterson, Hendry, McKenna, Taylor; McTominay, McGregor; Armstrong, McGinn, McLean; Brown

NOR: Selvik; Ryerson, Ajer, Østigård, Bjørkan; Aursnes, Berg, Berge; Bobb, Larsen, Dønnum

Victorious in five of their last six matches across all formats of the game, Norway did not need long to play party poopers at Hampden Park, as Ødegaard’s replacement, Aron Dønnum, brilliantly switched the ball over to his stronger left-foot inside of the penalty area before unleashing a perfectly-struck strike into the back of the net via the assistance of the post within three minutes.

However, it did not take Scotland long to respond, as in-form midfield general John McGinn confidently fired the hosts level from the penalty spot shortly before the quarter-hour mark after Dønnum had been adjudged to have handled the ball in the area by VAR’s eagle-eye up in the sky, and then referee Marco Di Bello down on the pitch.

Clearly not affected by losing their early advantage, Ståle Solbakken’s side restored their advantage in the 20th minute as Jørgen Strand Larsen clinically converted Julian Ryerson’s dangerous delivery into the six-yard box past Zander Clark from close range.

Fortuitously for Scotland, a second equaliser on a celebratory night in Glasgow was not far away, as Leo Skiri Østigård inadvertently sent Scott McTominay’s inswinging corner past goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

Protecting an unblemished historic four-match head-to-head record in UEFA European Championship Qualification, Scotland would net what they hoped was the match-winner shortly after the hour mark, as Stuart Armstrong determinedly won the ball back by the corner flag before exchanging passes with McGinn, which led to the Southampton midfielder firing a firmly-struck strike past Selvik.

After failing to call Clark into action for long spells of the second half, Norway finally registered a shot on target as Kristian Thorstvedt’s header forced the Scottish goalkeeper into a fine diving save down to his right-hand side. Nonetheless, nothing was stopping the Lions from salvaging a late point as a fellow second-half substitute from the away dugout, Mohamed Elyounoussi, inconspicuously arrived at the far stick to easily head home another delicious delivery into the box by Ryerson.

A bums-off-seats encounter in Glasgow leaves Scotland in second position in Group A, four points behind eventual winners Spain following their 3-1 victory over Georgia. Meanwhile, Norway’s wait for only their second-ever appearance at a UEFA European Championship finals continues, after making their sole appearance over two decades ago in 2000.