Hammers Abroad in June #3: Nordtveit and Randolph’s teams draw in World Cup Qualifiers

Two 1-1 draws were the story for Havard Nordtveit and Darren Randolph in their nation’s latest European Qualifiers for next summer’s World Cup finals over the weekend.

Nordtveit went the full 90 minutes in Norway’s 1-1 draw against Czech Republic on Sunday. The Scandinavians should have won the contest at home in Oslo, but playmaker Tarik El-Younoussi was too selfish and failed to pass to an open Alexander Soderlund for what would have been a tap in winner. It’s another result in a Group C campaign where Norway just weren’t ever a real threat to qualify for Russia 2018. It was pretty much a routine day for Nordtveit otherwise, as he wasn’t at fault for the Czech goal.

Darren Randolph was in the net again for Ireland, in their massive 1-1 comeback draw at home vs Austria. It seemed that the visitors would get payback for the Irish famously winning in Vienna 1-0 last November, as Martin Hinteregger finished a corner superbly in the 31st minute. Randolph could do nothing on that superb finish by the Ausburg versatile defender.

But Jon Waters provided Randolph and his teammates joy with great individual to finish Heinz Lindner to secure a valuable point for Ireland. The Martin O’Neil managed side remained tied with Serbia at the top of Group D, on 12 points.