Brazil beaten by Norway

STRIKER Tor Andre Flo scored twice to help Norway to a stunning win over World Cup holders Brazil in a friendly in Oslo last night.

Norway's bold strategy of attacking from the outset paid off as the Brazilians, possibly underestimating their opponents, were left in disarray in the first match of a European tour.

"It was a bit surprising," Norway coach Egil Olsen said. "The Brazilian midfield was as organised as garbage, so it was easy for us to play well. We have to remember this was a friendly, but it was one of our best matches ever."

Norway took the lead in the ninth minute. Frank Stradli deftly flicked the ball between Celio Silva legs to Petter Rudi, who scored from close range.

That goal set the scene for Brazil's humiliation at the hands of a solid and technically effective Norwegian side who were cheered by a capacity crowd of 21,799 at Oslo's Ullevaal Stadium.

Flo, who is to leave Norwegian elite division team Brann Bergen for Chelsea next season, took a pass from Oeyvind Leonardsen in the 17th minute to score from five metres.

Brazil pulled a goal back in the 20th minute through Dhalminha, but Flo struck again 12 minutes later when he fired a shot from 11 metres.

Norway, for whom the match was a warmup for a World Cup qualifier away to Hungary on June 8th, made four substitutions for the second half.

Romario reduced the Norwegian lead in the 68th minute with a fierce 11 metre drive that flew over the head of substitute goalkeeper Thomas Gill.

However, Egil Oestenstad sealed Norway's victory nine minutes later when he took a long pass from Flo and dribbled past goalkeeper Taffarel to score the fourth goal.

"This was simply incredible," Flo said. "We planned to push hard and we did it and we felt we could do it."