Scots start with defeat
07/09/2008 6:54 AM
Scotland suffered a disappointing start to its World Cup qualifying campaign when it slumped to a 1-0 defeat against FYR Macedonia in its opening match in Group Nine.
The home side took the lead after just five minutes and Ilcho Naumoski's strike proved to be decisive as Srecko Katanec's men held on to claim all three points.
The searing temperatures in Skopje were always going to be an issue for Scotland and it lacked a cutting edge for the remainder of the game, failing to find the goal that would at least have allowed it to put an early point on the board.
In the group's only other match of the night, Steffen Iversen scored twice to earn Norway a 2-2 draw at home to Iceland.
The Rosenborg striker put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute after Gretar Rafn Steinsson brought down Thorstein Helstad in the box, but the lead was shortlived as Heidar Helguson equalised three minutes later, heading home Emil Hallfredsson's cross.
Iversen scored his second five minutes after the restart when he outjumped Bjarni Olafur Eiriksson to nod in Fredrik Winsnes' pinpoint cross, but Eidur Gudjohnsen scored a stunning equaliser in the 69th minute.
The Barcelona frontman curled a 25-yard free-kick past goalkeeper Rune Jarstein to earn Iceland a share of the spoils.
Veigar Pall Gunnarsson could have snatched a dramatic victory for Norway but his 86th-minute strike from outside the box crashed back off a post.