PRESERVING FOOTBALL HISTORY - Norge

Norge - Maroc
NOR: Grodås (c) - Johnsen, Berg, Bjørnebye (c), Eggen - Leonhardsen, T.A.Flo (72 Solbakken), Rekdal, Mykland - H.Flo, Solskjær (46 Riseth)	2-2	MAR: Benzekri - El Hadrioui, Chippo (78 Anzine), Rossi, Naybet (c) - Chiba, Hadda (87 El Khattabi), Saber, Bassir - Hadji, El Khalej (90+ Azzouzi)

Hadji 38,Chippo 45+, Hadda 59, Eggen 60

FIFA World Cup 1998

Round 1 Group A
10 Jun 1998
Montpellier, Stade de la Mosson (-30000), Ref : Um-Prasert THA, Hamid MYS, Wickeramantunge SRI

Match Code:M361
Running Time : Approx. 100 min.
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English

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Norway cashed in on two goalkeeping blunders by Driss Benzekri to snatch a 2-2 draw with Morocco in their opening Group A match here on Wednesday night.
Egil Olsen`s side abilty to make the most of Benzekri`s errors kept alive their hopes of reaching the second round of the competition for the first time in their history.
The Norwegians had a string of chances at the end of the game to snatch victory but defeat would have been unfair on a Moroccan side who played with greater invention coming forward.
Olsen admitted he had been caught out by Morocco`s willingness to use the long ball - a tactic which his own team have used to great effect in recent years.
Morocco arrived in France with a reputation for slick, neat, technical football and Olsen confessed: “We were surprised and a bit confused tactically that they played long balls against us.
“We were not expecting that and we lost our shape a little for a while and were forced to adapt.“
But Morocco coach Henri Michel said he was disappointed that his team had occasionally taken a more direct route towards goal.
“We did not play as I had wanted. We tried far too many long balls when I prefer to see the ball passed along the ground,“ said the Frenchman.
Michel, who coached France at Mexico 86 and Cameroon at Italy 94, said he was annoyed that Morocco had twice surrendered the lead.
“I am very upset that we conceded the first goal on the stroke of half-time and a second two minutes after we had regained the lead,“ said the Frenchman.
“It`s very, very disappointing to make silly mistakes after taking control of the game and give ourselves a good chance of victory.“
Morocco had survived a torrid opening 10 minutes to go 1-0 up in the 38th minute.
It was a brilliant individual goal from midfielder Moustafa El Hadji who collected a long ball from Tahar El Khalej half-way in the Norwegian half.
The Deportivo La Coruna star, who was playing despite a fractured toe, burst into the area, turned Dan Eggen before unleashing a right-footed shot that gave Frode Grodas no chance.
But an own goal by Youssef Chippo allowed Norway back into the game on the stroke of half-time.
Norway, unnerving Benzekri with long balls into the area, were rewarded when the goalkeeper failed to gather Kjetil Rekdal`s free-kick from the left.
The ball came off Henning Berg and as it flew across the goalmouth Chippo, trying to head it clear, only managed to put it into his own goal.
Morocco went back in front in the 59th minute with a superb effort from Abdeljilil Hadda.
The 26-year-old collected a long ball over the Norwegian defence with a delicate touch before crashing it past a helpless Grodas.
Norway defender Dan Eggen said he felt he was to blame for the goal, saying he should have intercepted the ball before Hadda pounced.
Two minutes later Eggen threw himself into a goalmouth scramble to level the scores and keep alive Norway`s hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
But the Celta Vigo star said: “I feel responsible for Morocco`s second goal. I could kick myself because I do not normally make mistakes.
“Of course I am happy to have scored in the World Cup but the joy is slightly cancelled out by my error.
“It was a tough match but I do not think we were as good as we could have been even though we had chances at the end to win the game,“ he added.
Norway now face Scotland - 2-1 losers to Brazil - in Bordeaux on Tuesday in a game both sides need to win.
Olsen, who will step down as coach at the end of the tournament, said his team will face the Scots in confident mood.
“We are not unhappy with the result, “ said Olsen. “We have have played better, yes, but we have also played a lot worse.
“I knew Morocco would be tough because I saw them play against France a few weeks ago when they were very impressive.
“So I see the draw as a positive result but I think we could have won it at the end. The group is still wide open and anything can happen,” Olsen said.