Iceland's party spoiled as Norway grab late friendly win
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Norway's Bjorn Johnsen celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
(Reuters) - Former coach Lars Lagerback spoiled Iceland's pre-World Cup party in Reykjavik by steering his Norway side to a 3-2 victory thanks to late goals from Joshua King and Alexander Soerloth in a friendly on Saturday.
Set to become the smallest nation ever to compete at the World Cup when they make their debut in Russia, Iceland went behind in the 15th minute but Alfred Finnbogason put them back level with penalty on the half-hour mark.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Norway's Tarik Elyounoussi in action with Iceland's Emil Hallfredsson REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
There was a huge outpouring of joy when injury-plagued midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson demonstrated his class with a superb lob to put Iceland in front, and the home side looked to be coasting to a confidence-boosting win.
But Lagerback, who led Iceland to the finals of the 2016 European Championship in France, had the last laugh as King scored a simple tap-in before setting up Soerloth for the winner five minutes from time.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Norway's Alexander Sorloth celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Iceland's Sverrir Ingason in action REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeSoccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeSoccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Iceland's Alfred Finnbogason in action with Norway's Kristoffer Ajer REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeSoccer Football - International Friendly - Iceland vs Norway - Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland - June 2, 2018 Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
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