Gamst Pedersen cancels out Long penalty to level game at break

Republic of Ireland 1 Norway 1

Morten Gamst Pedersen ruined Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given’s big night with a stunning free-kick to drag Norway level in Dublin.

Given, making a record 109th appearance for his country, could not get to the Blackburn midfielder’s superb 34th-minute effort after Stephen Kelly had been penalised for handball.

Ireland had earlier taken a fifth-minute lead when striker Shane Long took up Robbie Keane’s mantle to win and then convert a penalty.

Norway arrived in Dublin sitting at the top of their qualifying group with a 100% record after three games and boasting a FIFA world ranking of 13, some 19 places above their hosts.

But while Trapattoni wanted to use the game to blood some of his emerging talents, he did not want to do so at the expense of a morale-boosting result ahead of the resumption of the qualifying campaign in March.

To that end, he could hardly have been more pleased with his side’s start.

Central defender John O’Shea strode over halfway with five minutes gone to pitch Long into a foot race with Norway skipper Hangeland, and when the burly defender wrestled his man to the ground, Icelandic referee Kristinn Jakobsson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

With usual penalty taker Robbie Keane out injured, the Reading striker stepped up to fire the spot-kick low to keeper Jon Knudsen’s right and into the bottom corner to get the Irish off to the perfect start.

Long’s strike partner Doyle fired high and wide two minutes later as the home side dominated, and they might have increased their lead with 12 minutes gone.

Doyle’s weighted pass allowed Liam Lawrence to drive in a low cross which Knudsen palmed out just inches away from Long, but the keeper recovered in time to kick Damien Duff’s follow-up off the line.

Fahey sent a 17th-minute volley just wide with the Norwegians struggling to stem the tide.

The visitors gradually started to work their way into the game and forced a series of corners as Riise and Pedersen began to make an impression down the left.

However, despite fielding nine of the men who started the 2-1 qualifier victory in Cyprus last month, they were unable to bring Given into play, although Riise’s long throw was proving increasingly problematical.

Olsen’s men were presented with a promising opportunity 12 minutes before the break after putting together a flowing move.

Hangeland’s pinpoint pass to Pedersen allowed him to lay the ball off for Thorstein Helstad, and Stephen Kelly handled as he attempted to halt the striker’s progress 25 yards out.

Pedersen took charge of the resulting free-kick and curled a superb left-foot shot over the defensive wall and high to Given’s right to level.

Long forced Knudsen into a hurried 40th-minute clearance as he chased down another long ball with the Irish fighting back.

Fahey was seeing plenty of the ball in the middle of the park as he attempted to prompt the men ahead of him, but with Henning Hauger protecting the Scandinavians’ back four with help from Christian Grindheim and Petter Vaagan Moen, space was at a premium.

The home side were almost caught again two minutes before the break when Helstad found half a yard inside the penalty area, but he hit his shot straight at Given.