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Scotland drew 0-0 with Norway in a World Cup Group 9 qualifier at Hampden Park, with Chris Iwelumo guilty of a staggering miss.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Iwelumo made his debut, aged 30, as a second-half substitute, and booked himself a place in DVD compilation hell with a truly remarkable blunder.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Gary Naysmith crossed low from the left past goalkeeper Jon Knudsen, finding Iwelumo completely unmarked three yards in front of an open goal.

It was the simplest finish imaginable, but somehow Iwelumo failed to set himself and sent the ball wide when such an outcome appeared mathematically impossible.

In truth, Iwelumo should have been given offside, having strayed beyond the last defender, but the linesman's flag stayed down and the goal would have counted.

Under-pressure manager George Burley had opted to play James McFadden as a lone striker, supported from the left and right by Shaun Maloney and James Morrison.

But the downside of his decision not to use a second man up front soon became apparent as McFadden found himself isolated.

The burly likes of Brede Hangeland and Jon Inge Hoiland ensured the Birmingham striker saw little of the ball.

As the home side toiled away, a boisterous Hampden Park crowd became anxious, with last month's defeat in Macedonia having already compromised their hopes of reaching South Africa in 2010.

Scotland's lack of speed in central defence was soon exposed. John Carew is renowned more for his imposing physique than his searing pace, yet time and again he outstripped David Weir and Gary Caldwell to creat opportunities for himself.

As early as the ninth minute he accelerated through the middle with worrying ease, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle.

Just before the mid-point of the first half he tested goalkeeper Craig Gordon with a low drive from the left corner of the box. Gordon parried and Steffen Iversen blasted the follow-up over.

It took another impressive block to deny the Aston Villa striker on 40 minutes after he ran onto an intelligent knock-down from Fredrik Stromstad.

Although the central midfield trio of Darren Fletcher - captain in Barry Ferguson's absence - Scott Brown and Barry Robson ensured plenty of possession, Scottish chances were at a premium.

Their best chance of the opening period came seconds before the break when McFadden peeled away on the left side and curled a superb cross onto the head of Morrison, who headed over from close range at the far post.

The situation seemed to cry out for attacking reinforcements by Burley, but when Iwelumo came just before the hour, he replaced the deeply frustrated McFadden and Scotland persisted with their flawed 4-5-1.

Barry Robson almost immediately fired a first-time shot left-footed, but it was straight at Norwegian keeper Knudsen - another 30-something debutant.

Iwelumo has been on only eight minutes when his big moment arrived, but the ball somehow ended up in the crowd. It really was the stuff of nightmares.

His error seemed to galvanise the home side, who then enjoyed their best spell of the game, dominating possession and forcing Norway back.

Maloney saw a shot deflected wide after picking up an astute Iwelumo knock-down, then fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Then late nerves set in, as Steffen Iversen, Kjetil Waehler and Carew all went close to nicking a an away win - but a goalless draw was cruel enough for Scotland.

Alex Chick / Eurosport