Huseklepp sinks Portugal

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Last time Huseklepp played at Ullevaal stadion he scored both goals in the 2-0 victory against France a month ago.

The Brann-striker wasn't able to make an impact in the national qualifier against Iceland last week, but against Portugal tuesday evening he was back with a vengeance.

The Brann-striker, starting as a right wing, was at the right place at the right time when teammate John Carew sacrificed himself to block a clearance from the portuguese goalkeeper. The ball hit Carew and ended up dead in front of a wide-open portuguese goal. Huseklepp snapped the free ball and had an easy job putting it in the net to give Norway the lead after 20 minutes.

Shortly after, John Carew had to leave the pitch due to the crash he had with the portuguese goalkeeper when Norway scored. In came substitute and match-winner from the Iceland-match last week, Mohammed "Moa" Abdellaoue.

Norway lead the game 1-0 at halftime, and shortly after halftime Huseklepp came close to extending the lead, but his shot from short distance snuck just outside the near post.

After 60 minutes Portugal and the majority of the fans in the stadium that the visiting side had equalized, but the goal from Hugo Almeida was correctly disallowed due to a close-call offside.

The second half was evenly played as well as entertaining with chances to both sides. But Norway played heroic defense and kept a clean sheet. Norway won the game 1-0, and now has six points after two matches in group H of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Kampfakta

Norge – Portugal 1-0 (1-0)
European Championship qualifier, Ullevaal stadion, 24.535 attendance.
Yellow cards: Bjørn Helge Riise, Norway. Raúl Meireles, Hugo Almeida, Portugal.

Goals:
1-0 Erik Huseklepp (21.)

Norway (4-5-1): Jon Knudsen – Tom Høgli, Brede Hangeland, Kjetil Wæhler (Vadim Demidov from 28.), Espen Ruud – Erik Huseklepp, Bjørn Helge Riise, Henning Hauger, Christian Grindheim (Ruben Yttergård Jensen from 86.), Morten Gamst Pedersen – John Carew (Mohammed Abdellaoue from 38.).