World Cup 2022: Almost 20,000 abusive social media posts - Fifa report

On a night when the Mayor of Norwich became the King of Norway, when a Queens Park Rangers man outshone the greatest striker on the planet, Scotland took a mighty leap towards the Euros in Germany next summer.

A Burglars XI couldn’t have pulled off a smash-and-grab to rival Scotland’s caper in Oslo. Lyndon Dykes’ late equaliser set the alarm bells ringing in the Norway camp and, before they knew what was happening, Kenny McLean scored the winner and scarpered. It was stunning and seismic stuff.

Until that dramatic endgame, it looked like Erling Haaland’s night again. He left the pitch in the 84th minute having put his country 1-0 ahead from the penalty spot. Boy, did he look happy.

Home again and scoring again. It wouldn’t have been a surprise had somebody stuck a giant Cuban cigar in his beak and a glass of something sparkling in his hand and told him it was time to start partying again.

After touching the ball eight times in the first half - the fewest touches of anybody on the pitch bar the referee - Haaland suckered Ryan Porteous and put Norway in front from the spot, his 22nd goal in 24 games for his country, his 59th goal since June last year, his 209th goal from 257 games for his clubs and his country. The guy is 22 years old.

He’d been nowhere near his lethal best, but his threat was growing just before the penalty. And Norway celebrated like they’d already won the match.

When Haaland was taken off with six minutes to go, the Norwegians on the bench high-fived him like the hard work had been done, as if what was left of Scotland’s stuffing had been knocked out of them. They could see no response from the visitors, no threat, no hope of a comeback.

They wouldn’t have been the only ones. A goal down and McLean, a defensive midfielder, coming on instead of the attacking Lewis Ferguson?

Lawrence Shankland or Kevin Nisbet not appearing for the toiling Dykes?

Across Scotland, tens of thousands of armchair managers would have screamed their tactical wizardry at Steve Clarke. Turns out that the head coach knew better than the rest of us. Fancy that.

Minutes after an epic finale, McLean struggled to explain the madness that had

Benue FA Chairman Edeh donates

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

New Chairman of Benue State Football Association Barr. Paul Edeh has donated 10 million naira as take off grant for the new board.

Barr. Edeh emerged chairman at the elective Congress of the State FA held a the weekend in Makurdi.

He defeated former U-21 coach Chief Godwin Uwua 28 votes -1 vote to succeed former Benue Speaker Chief (Mrs) Margaret Icheen who is now a member of Nigeria Football Federation Board.

In an acceptance speech, the FA Chair promised to give a direction and hope to football in the State, adding that he will run an investment driven football association.

He also, pledged to eliminate corruption and entrench transparency, accountability solidarity, courage and rule of law. unfolded, the two minutes 45 seconds between Haaland’s triumphant exit and Dykes’ battling equaliser and the one minute 44 seconds between the equaliser and his outstanding winner.

“I will exceed and surpass your expectations. I assure that we will search through the nooks and crannies for youngsters.

We will bring back glory days of football, more Benue indigenes will play in the national teams.

Head of Member and Association Nigeria Football Federation, Ali Abubakar lauded the peaceful conduct of the election and acknowledged the zeal and commitment of the new chairman to take the State FA to heights. “I will exceed and surpass your expectations. I assure that we will search through the nooks and crannies for youngsters.

We will bring back glory days of football, more Benue indigenes will play in the national teams.

Head of Member and Association Nigeria Foommitment of the new chairman to take the State FA to heights.

Defeat turned into victory in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.

“It’s hard to put into words,” McLean said with a look of happy befuddlement. Just after he spoke, Martin Odegaard appeared in front of the cameras. The Norway captain repeated McLean’s opening remark verbatim. “It’s hard to put into words.”