TRAPATTONI PLEASED TO KEEP UNBEATEN RECORD

The Republic celebrate Keane's goal.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was a satisfied man after seeing his side scrap their way through rainstorm in Norway to preserve his unbeaten record.

The Italian's team took a 44th-minute lead at the Ullevaal Stadium courtesy of Robbie Keane's 34th international goal, but then saw the heavens open to turn the contest into a lottery.

Norway coped with the conditions much the better and levelled 15 minutes after the break after substitute keeper Dean Kiely's error prompted Kevin Kilbane to head the ball straight to a delighted Tore Reginiussen in front of and empty net.

However, Trapattoni was happy enough to have extended his run without defeat to three games since taking over at the helm ahead of next month's opening World Cup qualifiers.

He said: "In every sport, not only football, results are important. We said yesterday, we have to believe in our quality.

"Norway believe in their quality and for us, it was important for us to do the same. Before I came to Ireland, we were losing games; up to now, we have not lost. That's important.

"The players believe in what we are doing and that is important for morale.

"The players are happy and that is important because before I came to Ireland, some were injured and stayed at home, and others didn't want to come back. At the moment, we have a good squad."

The deluge which left the pitch awash with surface water descended shortly before half-time as rain which had been falling in Oslo for most of the day increased in intensity.

Skipper Robbie Keane admitted the conditions made flowing football almost impossible.

"The conditions in the second-half completely ruined the game," he said.

"I think we would have kicked on we were in control of the game and we could have scored a couple of more.

"The pitch absolutely spoiled the second-half - but we will take the positives form the first-half."

Trapattoni, who now has three weeks to finalise his plans for tricky away games against Georgia and Montenegro, admitted the match had been a classic game of two halves.

After a sticky start, Ireland controlled matters and their lead when it came was deserved.

But once the conditions changed for the worse, their hosts prospered and might even have claimed victory had Kilbane not gone himself in the way of John Arne Riise's stinging volley.

"In my opinion, I saw two games: the first half and the second half," Trapattoni added.

"In the first half, both teams played well when the pitch was good and it was possible to play football and we achieved a goal.

"But in the second half, it was impossible to play football like in the first half.

"The result was fair because in the second half, we were under pressure.

"But I saw our character. I said yesterday, Norway would be a very strong team because I know the Nordic mentality.

"Today, we picked a very strong team because we knew about this mentality. The team needed to be compact and to understand again our shape.

"But I am happy. We have had a good test because in the second half, we could also have lost the game and that's pressure.

"But our mentality and determination got us through and we were happy with 1-1. Now we have another game to prepare for, the qualifier against Georgia."