LONDON (AP) -When Chris Iwelumo ran onto the Hampden Park field for his debut in a Scotland shirt, the score was 0-0 and he had the chance to shoot his country to a World Cup qualifying victory.
And what a chance.
Six minutes after entering the game, the ball was crossed to the lanky striker who found himself two meters (yards) in front of an empty goal with Norway's goalkeeper grounded and off his line and not a defender anywhere near Iwelumo.
The Scottish fans raised their arms to celebrate.
All Iwelumo had to do was tap the ball home.
Sadly for the striker, the ball came off his right boot at an angle and floated harmlessly wide of the near post.
If that wasn't bad enough, the nightmare wasn't over 30-year-old Iwelumo. As the game was about to resume with a goal kick, the big screen at the end of the stadium showed his miss again. And again.
"I saw the chance (on the screen) about 10 seconds after it happened," Iwelumo said after the game ended 0-0 and he cost Scotland two points.
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon suggested that the people showing the replays to the fans must have had a mean streak.
"Whoever's in charge of the big screen showed Chris' miss about five times, which was nice of them," he said sarcastically. "The fans didn't need to see that again and I'm sure we didn't. Everybody looked up at the big screen and saw it on a number of occasions.
"He knew he should have scored. Possibly if he was a yard (meter) further out then it would have been an easier finish. But it got caught between his feet and he wasn't able to divert it on target."
Long after the game was over, Iwelumo's miss became a big hit on internet sites, too. Now he returns to his League Championship club hoping he will get another chance in a Scotland shirt.
"There's always going to be a talking point when you make your debut and I'm disappointed it was that (miss) rather than scoring the winning goal on the day," Iwelumo said.
