Scotland suffered their worst defeat for five years in a disastrous 4-0 World Cup, Group Nine qualifying defeat away to Norway. For half and hour the teams looked evenly matched until Gary Caldwell was dismissed for two yellow card offences in the space of a couple of minutes.

From the resulting free kick John Arne Riise hammered home the opener courtesy of a substantial deflection off Scott Brown.

Ironically, Riise was fortunate to still be on the pitch after two rash challenges had only seen one yellow awarded.

What little chance Scotland had of consolidating second place in the group disappeared on the stroke of half time.

A flowing move from the home side ended with Blackburn Rovers Morten Gamst Pedersen curling the ball home.

John Carew had proved a thorn in the Scotland defence throughout and his 60 minute shot hit both posts before presenting Erik Huseklepp with the easiest of chances to make it three.

Carew actually 'scored' in the 68th minute but the officials failed to observe that the ball had crossed the line.

With the game entering time added on, George Burley's misery was complete as Gamst Pedersen curled a delightful free-kick into the top corner.

This was Norway's first win in group nine and leaves Egil Olsen's side just a point behind Scotland whose own World Cup qualifying hopes now hang by a thread.