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Republic of Ireland's Andrew Moran reacts following the UEFA Euro U21 Championship Qualifying Group A match at Turners Cross. Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland suffer late heartbreak against Norway

A controversial last-gasp goal denied the hosts a guaranteed European U21 Championship play-off spot.

UEFA European U21 Qualifiers Group A

Republic of Ireland 1

Norway 1 

Stephen Barry reports Turner’s Cross

THERE WAS late heartbreak for the Republic of Ireland as a controversial Norwegian equaliser in the third and final minute of stoppage time denied the hosts a guaranteed European U21 Championship play-off spot.

Seán Roughan broke a tense stalemate in the 75th minute which looked set to seal a top-two finish for Ireland, who can still qualify automatically with a win away to Italy on Tuesday.

However, Sindre Walle Egeli got away with a clear jersey pull on Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and although Tiernan Brooks saved the initial Thelo Aasgaard shot, Andreas Schjelderup was on hand to turn home in front of 5,754 fans at Turner’s Cross.

Suspended striker Sinclair Armstrong and injured captain Joe Hodge were among the major absentees but Jim Crawford threw in another curveball with a change of goalkeeper.

Josh Keeley had been ever-present during this campaign but after his error against Latvia, Brooks came in for his competitive debut.

The Gateshead goalie, who previously lined out at Turner’s Cross during a brief spell with Cork City, has been getting regular first-team football in the English National League but was completely untested until injury time.

There was also a first cap for Emmanuel Adegboyega, the Norwich City defender on loan at Dundee United, while Kenny and Aidomo Emakhu were introduced to the attack.

Both teams lined up with five across the back out of possession and a conservative opening period ensued. The biggest cheers were reserved for strong tackles and the best chances were mostly pullbacks into empty space.

A long diagonal ball to Roughan produced Ireland’s first opportunity down the left but no striker was up with the play to capitalise.

It took 33 minutes for the first shot to lift the crowd. Killian Phillips won the ball in an advanced position, Andrew Moran’s quick-thinking pass found Johnny Kenny’s run, and the Shamrock Rovers striker unleashed a low drive which forced Sander Tangvk to save with an outstretched right boot.

Ireland didn’t allow a shot against them in the first half with Tobias Guddal’s stoppage-time header the closest imitation of one from the visitors.

After the break, Brooks got away with a heart-in-mouth pass as Norway pressed up and Adegboyega blocked a first away attempt from Schjelderup.

Before long, Ireland began to take control and exploit the space left behind down the left flank. Moran was drifting wide to create an overlap with Roughan and they were central figures in back-to-back chances.

Roughan and Kenny combined to win back possession and they ended up with the shots after a through ball from Moran. The full-back’s shot was spilled by Tangvk but Kenny couldn’t keep the rebound down.

Then, Moran instigated a move through Roughan and Emakhu, whose clever flick sent the captain through. His shot was powerfully struck but directed too high.

Schjelderup got on the end of a couple of Norwegian moves as the stalemate entered a final quarter. The Benfica winger was brilliantly dispossessed by Abankwah when eyeing the target. Then, he was left unmarked from a corner-kick but cannoned his volley high and wide.

Moran fired a hopeful effort over before the finest move of the day prised open the Norwegian defence.

Healy curled a tremendous pass behind the backline, which was met by a perfect first touch by Kenny. The striker whizzed his pullback across the posts where it was met by the onrushing Roughan to thump the ball home.

Crawford had already lined up a triple substitution which saw hometown favourite Mark O’Mahony introduced alongside Baba Adeeko and Rocco Vata.

Schjelderup and Elias Melkersen miscued a couple of efforts off target before a deflected Mvuka shot was turned around the post by Brooks.

It was the keeper’s first save of the night but having then denied Aasgaard, the final shot of the night was a crushing blow for Ireland.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: T Brooks; S Curtis, E Adegboyega, J Abankwah, A Garcia MacNulty, S Roughan; K Phillips (B Adeeko 77), M Healy, A Moran; J Kenny (R Vata 77), A Emakhu (M O’Mahony 77).

NORWAY: S Tangvk; O Braude (S Egeli 81), E Helland, T Guddal, R Østrøm (S Npan 90), M Løvik; K Arnstad, I Hansen-Aarøen (T Aasgaard 81); J Mvuka, L Nordås (E Melkersen 81), A Schjelderup (B Skaret 90+4).

Referee: J Alberola Rojas (ESP).

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:00 PM

    Bloody referee and officials, how was that free not given?

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    Mute Steven O shea
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:27 PM

    Should make the playoffs still hard luck

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Oct 12th 2024, 12:21 AM

    @Steven O shea: probably not given the remaining fixtures unfortunately. Manager deserves another campaign though.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 12th 2024, 2:03 AM

    @Ian Cunningham: Well if they win they qualify are draw and thats not taking into account norway must beat turkey even if they lose norway must win i think anyway 2 points ahead off norway

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 12th 2024, 2:03 AM

    @Shawn: my head hurts posting that lol

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    Mute conor carroll
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    Oct 12th 2024, 7:56 AM

    Robert is right. It was a definite jersey pull but the defender should have been stronger. Also some of the players were only trotting back. It was the last play of the game so more urgency was needed.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:06 PM

    Forget about it. No good.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:37 PM

    @Ray Ridge: You sure are no good

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Oct 12th 2024, 7:48 AM

    @Ray Ridge: trolling again Ray I see. You are invisible on any good news story but can’t help yourself on anything that might be slightly less than positive.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:36 PM

    Where does that leave them now a win v italy they go top a draw second a lost ????

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    Mute Teddy O neill
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:41 PM

    @Shawn: As someone once said its up for grabs now italy v rep of ireland norway v turkey

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Oct 12th 2024, 7:03 AM

    Shocking decision. Was 100% a free kick why it wasn’t given is beyond me… But saying that Garcia-McNulty could of been stronger in the tackle and and the player beside him should of came around and blocked the Norwegians run into the box. They were much better in the second half went out and tried to win the game. It was lovely goal with nice build up play just a shame the ref ripped them off. I think they’ll take that frustration to Italy and have a right go. I actually think they’ll win and if there’s any justice Turkey will get a result in Norway

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 12th 2024, 3:19 PM

    @robert kelly: Thats the spirit

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