Football: Cole halts the Norwegians' march

Norway Under-21 .. .1

England Under-21 . .1

ANDREW COLE'S third goal in two games saved England from defeat and ended Norway's 100 per cent record at the top of Group Two in the Uefa Under-21 Championship in Stavanger last night.

The Newcastle striker, bought from Bristol City for pounds 1.7m in March, had scored twice in the 4-1 win over Poland on Friday, and was on target again with an 81st-minute equaliser, turning swiftly on the penalty spot to shoot past Andre Ulla in the Norwegian goal.

Two minutes from time Jamie Redknapp thought he had secured both points when he headed home Cole's cross but the ball had crossed the byline before being centred.

England were almost swamped in the first half and the Oldham goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard, made a fine penalty save from Leeds' Norwegian striker, Frank Strandli, after two minutes. Aston Villa's Neil Cox then cleared off the line from Egil Ostenstad and Tommy Larsen scored direct from a free-kick only to see his effort ruled out.

Ostenstad finally put the Norwegians in front, but Cole salvaged a point for England, their eighth from a possible 10 from the last five games.

NORWAY UNDER-21: Ulla (Hamarkameratne); Moen (Tromso), Haland (Bryne), Ulfstein (Viking Stavanger), Bergdolmo (Lillestrom), Aase (Viking Stavanger), Larsen (Start), Storvik, Solberg, Ostenstad (all Viking Stavanger), Strandli (Leeds United).

ENGLAND UNDER-21: Gerrard (Oldham); Ardley (Wimbledon), Small (Aston Villa), Jackson (Everton), Cox, Ehiogu (both Aston Villa), Flitcroft, Sheron (both Manchester City), Cole (Newcastle), Redknapp (Liverpool), Anderton (Tottenham).