Ireland 1-2 Norway
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It may be a friendly, but Stephen Kenny is certainly taking this match seriously as the strong starting lineup suggests.
Norway, of course, are without their star player in Erling Haaland, but Kenny insists he is expecting a tough test regardless.
In addition, the Norwegians are seven places above Ireland in the Fifa rankings and are captained by Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, so will fancy their chances of getting something from this game.
Along with Malta on Sunday, tonight will serve as preparation for Ireland’s first European Championship qualifier at home to France, so it’s a big chance for the likes of Alan Browne and Callum O’Dowda to stake a claim for a starting spot next March.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Confirmation of the Irish starting XI…
STARTING XI | Ireland v Norway
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 17, 2022
Callum O'Dowda & Callum Robinson come into the starting line-up for tonight's international friendly at the @AVIVAStadium ⤵️
John Egan ©️ with kick-off at 7.45pm ⌚️
𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/yc4mdYH1zU
And here’s how Norway line out for this evening…
Vi er klare for 🇮🇪 klokka 20:45 på TV 2 ✊#sterkeresammen pic.twitter.com/8Z2rSS6YqR
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) November 17, 2022
We’re underway…
Decent start from Ireland.
Good pressure from Browne sees the hosts win the ball deep in Norwegian territory.
Callum Robinson then gets a first sight at goal but his attempt from the edge of the area is well off target.
O’Dowda’s cross is deflected out for a corner.
Ireland have started well and are enjoying a good spell of pressure without creating any chances yet.
Ireland have dominated possession so far with Norway happy to sit relatively deep and play on the counter.
Matt Doherty and Callum O’Dowda have seen plenty of the ball on the flanks in the early stages, but Ireland have struggled to open up their well-drilled opponents.
20 minutes have passed now and there’s been almost nothing of note to report on.
Robinson’s ballooned shot is the only attempt on goal I can remember.
Odegaard crosses for Patrick Berg, whose shot on the volley goes well over.
That’s the first sign of a Norwegian threat.
A stray pass from Bazunu puts Ireland under pressure.
Jorgen Larsen receives the ball on the edge of the area but can’t hit the target.
Down the other end, a hanging O’Dowda cross is headed behind for a corner.
Another Bazunu pass goes astray and there are audible groans from the crowd.
There’s been no real conviction about Ireland’s play so far. Norway have looked very comfortable for the most part.
Bazunu fails to gather Odegaard’s curled free kick into the area, but it deflects to safety luckily.
The goalkeeper has looked a little nervy early on.
Molumby does well to make a last-ditch challenge on an onrushing Solbakken and break up a Norwegian attack.
Down the other end though, Stephen Kenny’s men look a little short of ideas.
You just don’t feel like they are going to score any time they go forward.
This game is really lacking in inspiration at the moment.
Has the feel of a friendly, with neither side playing with any great attacking intent and chances at a premium.
Ireland 0-1 Norway (Ostigard 40)
Norway are ahead out of nothing.
An Odegaard corner is played in and Ostigard meets it perfectly with his head, escaping his marker Egan in the process.
That was far too easy from an Irish perspective.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-1 NORWAY
Half-time and it’s been a poor watch, to be quite honest.
There were a few half-promising moments for Ireland early on, but they have looked toothless for the most part.
Norway have hardly been much better but were clinical when presented with a rare opportunity towards the end of the first half.
The hosts have dominated possession with 62% possession but have had just one attempt on goal and zero on target, while Norway have had seven shots and just one on target.
So far, Stephen Kenny won’t have learned too much — at least not in a positive sense — from his players.
Here’s a look at the game’s only goal and probably the only real moment of excitement so far.
Half-time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Norway - Leo Ostigard's header from a corner ensures the visitors lead at the break. #IRLNOR
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 17, 2022
📱Updates - http://https://t.co/xMsBTAjRBN
📺Watch - http://https://t.co/wQsvKI41BU pic.twitter.com/vQKo0IaBkl
The second half has begun.
No changes from ether side at the break.
Doherty plays it to Molumby, who is clattered into by his opponent, earning Ireland a free kick about 30 yards out.
Robinson’s free-kick then deflects out for a corner, which is easily cleared.
Better from Ireland.
Robinson finds space down the left.
The Cardiff star picks out Egan with the cross but it comes awkwardly off the Corkonian’s knee and goes a few inches wide.
So close!
More good work out wide by Robinson before Obafemi’s cross is turned narrowly wide by Norway defender Thorsby.
Moments later, Nyland does well to block Browne’s shot on the half volley from close range.
Bazunu gets down well to save Solbakken’s shot from a tight angle.
This game is far more open now with Ireland playing higher up the pitch.
Cullen puts in a good cross for O’Dowda, but the wing-back’s header is straight at Nyland.
Ireland have improved since half-time and are enjoying a sustained spell of pressure on the Norwegian goal.
Norway make a change.
Solbakken is replaced by Kristoffer Zachariassen.
Two more changes for Norway
Fredrik Bjorkan and Marcus Pederson go off, Julian Ryerson and Birger Meling come on.
Ireland 1-1 Norway (Browne 69)
Ireland equalise and it’s a superb goal from Alan Browne.
O’Dowda’s cross is headed away to the edge of the area.
The Preston star takes one touch, before driving a powerful low effort into the corner of the net.
Changes for both sides now.
For Norway, Thorsby is replaced by Ola Byrnhildsen, while Ohi Omoijuanfo comes on for Jorgen Larsen.
For Ireland, Brady and Ogbene replace O’Dowda and Obafemi.
Another change for Ireland, as Hendrick replaces Molumby.
Moments earlier, Ogbene narrowly failed to pick out Robinson with a low cross.
Ireland 1-2 Norway (Omoijuanfo 85)
That’s a real blow for Ireland and again comes out of nothing.
An Odegaard free kick is lofted in, Collins tries to head it clear but it deflects kindly for the substitute Omoijuanfo, who shoots low past Bazunu.
Meanwhile, 41,120 is announced as the official attendance.
Another change for Ireland and it’s a special moment for 18-year-old Evan Ferguson.
He replaces Alan Browne but has less than two minutes of normal time to find an equaliser.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
Here’s a look at the Browne goal…
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Norway - Alan Browne equalises for Ireland with a fabulous finish from outside the area. #IRLNOR
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 17, 2022
📱Updates - http://https://t.co/xMsBTAjRBN
📺Watch - http://https://t.co/wQsvKI41BU pic.twitter.com/ejG2PttUO2
Another change for Norway.
Patrick Berg is replaced by Stian Gregersen.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-2 NORWAY
So that’s that.
Another frustrating evening for Stephen Kenny’s Ireland.
After a dour first half, the hosts came alive after the break and deserved their equaliser.
However, Ireland could not really build on this momentum, not helped by a raft of substitutions that disrupted the flow of the game.
In the end, Omoijuanfo’s opportunistic strike won it, with the 2-1 result slightly harsh on the Boys in Green, who were more than a match for their opponents in the second half.
This game won’t live long in the memories of most people, with the exception of perhaps Evan Ferguson and his family.
The 18-year-old came off the bench late on for a first senior appearance at international memory and what will hopefully be the first of many caps for the teenager.
Here’s a look at the winning goal…
Republic of Ireland 1-2 Norway - Ohi Omoijuanfo restores Norway's lead. #IRLNOR
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 17, 2022
📱Updates - http://https://t.co/xMsBTAkprl
📺Watch - http://https://t.co/wQsvKI4zrs pic.twitter.com/AKl7DFKoMU
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
