Classic Times Fantasy Football is back. We've got two great games for you to play and £100K to be won

It took a monsoon to wreck the smooth progress of Ireland at the Ullevaal Stadium last night, their 1-0 half-time advantage against Norway swiftly lost, submerged almost, in a second-half downpour. Even Noah and his Ark might have struggled to stay afloat.

If it all smacked of their fruitless campaign in qualifying for this summer's European Championship finals, when time and again they relinquished a lead, that would be a harsh judgment. This time, the appalling weather could be deemed partly responsible.

All was well until Mother Nature did her worst and at least Giovanni Trapattoni, the Ireland manager, stretched his unbeaten run to three matches. Since succeeding Steve Staunton in February, the wily Italian has plugged the leaks and righted the ship. “We saw two games out there,” Trapattoni said. “Both teams played well in the first half, the pitch was good, it was possible to play football and we achieved a goal. In the second half, with all the water on the pitch, it was impossible to play. We could have lost but we showed our mentality and character and we came through.”

Trapattoni can now turn his attentions to the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Ireland open their group eight programme with a double-header against Georgia and Montenegro next month. It is, though, not quite as simple as that. With Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, out of bounds because of the recent conflict with Russia, Fifa, the sport's world governing body, has ordered the Georgian FA to find an alternative venue.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, similar football outposts, have been mentioned as possible hosts for the match on September 6, as have Turkey and Italy. Wherever the Georgians decide to stage it - and they have to make up their minds up by Tuesday - Ireland still have to play in Podgorica, the Montenegran capital, four days later. It is no easy schedule.

Norway on a wet evening in Oslo offered a gentler test - as the friendly status of the fixture decreed - and it took a while for Trapattoni's line-up to click into top gear. Having halted a seven-match winless run with the creditable 1-0 victory over Colombia at Craven Cottage in May, more was expected.

Patience was the key, especially when the steady rain became a torrent shortly before half-time. It was the perfect contest for Steven Reid to make his international comeback after a two-year absence during an injury-blighted period. His combative form of midfield leadership has been missed. “When I saw him for the first time, I knew only of the name,” Trapattoni said. “I asked him to give us experience and personality and he did.”

Rune Almenning Jarstein, the Norway goalkeeper, saved well from Robbie Keane and a deflected effort from Damien Duff but could do little as Ireland poached the lead in the 44th minute. Brede Hangeland, the giant Fulham central defender, wasted possession and Duff threaded the ball through for Keane to run on to.

The Ireland captain, now with Liverpool, cut in from the right, slipped into space and then cleverly guided his shot under Jarstein. It was his 34th goal for his country in 82 appearances and Ireland will need more from him if they are to reach the World Cup finals in South Africa two years hence.

After the downpour had continued during the interval, the second half was almost a washout. Puddles lay everywhere and the ball frequently dribbled to a halt, making passing any distance virtually impossible.

Norway adapted better to the aquatic conditions, with Ireland losing all their rhythm and momentum. The home team waddled through the quagmire and were rewarded with a deserved equaliser in the 61st minute.

Martin Andresen clipped over a free kick from close to the byline and Dean Kiely, Shay Given's half-time replacement, could only tip it on to the head of Kevin Kilbane, his team-mate. Kilbane looked back in horror as the ball fell perfectly for Tore Reginiussen, who touched it over the line from close range.

The heavens relented a little, with Reid and John Arne Riise, the former Liverpool defender, even managing to keep their feet long enough to exchange a few angry words. Reid is making up for lost time and is clearly up for it. Every ounce of his energy and aggression will be needed against Georgia next month, wherever Ireland are told to pitch up.

Norway (4-1-3-2): RA Jarstein - T Hogli, T Reginiussen, B Hangeland, JA Riise - M Andresen - F Stromstad (sub: K Haestad, 43min), DF Holm (sub: MG Pedersen, 46), F Winsnes - M Abdellaoue (sub: C Grindheim, 80), T Helstad (sub: E Nevland, 57).

Substitutes not used: J Knudsen, MM Skjonsberg, AR Haland.

Ireland (4-4-2): S Given (sub: D Kiely, 46) - S Finnan (sub: S Kelly, 68), J O'Shea, R Dunne, K Kilbane - A McGeady (sub: S Hunt, 68), S Reid, G Whelan, D Duff - K Doyle (sub: D Murphy, 64), R Keane. Substitutes not used: A Bruce, A Reid, J O'Brien, S Long, L Miller, D Delaney, A Keogh. Booked: Keane.

Referee: M Whitby (Wales).