International Friendly: Republic of Ireland 1 - 2 Norway

A late goal from substitute Ohi Omoijuanfo gave Norway a 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland on a night where set pieces cost Stephen Kenny’s men on a chilly night at the Aviva Stadium.

It was a messy goal for Ireland to concede with Nathan Collins making a hash of a routine Martin Odegaard cross and Omoijuanfo turned home with five minutes remaining.

Leo Ostigard’s first Norway goal on his 8^th cap gave the visitors the lead just before the interval before a daisy cutter from Alan Browne levelled affairs with twenty minutes to play.

Ireland trailed at the break after a first-half that will not live long in the memory but will unfortunately assume its existence in this report after Ostigard lost John Egan at the near post and glanced home.

Ireland failed to register a shot on target in the first 45 but played with zest and fervour in a much improved second half showing and, after a flurry of opportunities, Browne levelled in style as his low cutting effort found the bottom corner.

The late concession of a second was harsh on the hosts but they were made to rue some sloppy defending on a night where Norway created precious little by way of chances.

After a turgid first half performance Stephen Kenny’s charges emerged from the West Stand tunnel rejuvenated and revigorated and created several chances before eventually falling behind again.

Ireland have lacked consistency in 2022 and this 90-minute performance encapsulated that with a constipated opening half paving the way for a pacey and energetic display in the second period.

The absence of Erling Haaland understandably turned a few away from the turnstiles tonight but a healthy crowd of over 40,000 shuffled in.

If you had said last week that the Man City striker would have as much of an impact as Callum Robinson and Michael Obafemi, you would have thought we were in for a goal fest.

The first half was anything but...

Robinson was one of four changes from the Armenia game but his partnership with Obafemi lacked cohesion and chemistry in the first half and they were starved of service.

It would be hyperbolic to say Ireland enjoyed prolonged spells of possession given that the ball spent most of the opening half at the feet of Collins, Dara O’Shea and Egan.

Ireland were ponderous, turgid, lethargic, whatever you want to call it in possession.

Passes went from side to side and backwards with a lack of intensity in Kenny’s men.

O’Dowda was on left wing back trial ahead of the EURO 2024 qualifiers next March. He was willing, pinging several crosses into the box but quality was severely lacking before he emerged as a positive on the night after his second half effort.

Making his first start since November 2020 he lacked the pace to get beyond Alan Browne on the left of a midfield three at times.

Ireland like to build from the back but Gavin Bazunu had a first half to forget, kicking two balls over the sideline and giving one away which led to a rare Norway chance.

The 21-year-old was poor for a Bobby Firmino goal at Anfield last weekend and he had another hairy moment when he allowed a Martin Odegaard free kick to bounce in the area before it rebounded off his chest.

Only a handful of Norway fans were in attendance and they would have been warmed up by Ostigard’s header which gave them the lead.

In the absence of Haaland it was the turn of their other star man to provide some quality as Odegaard’s ball in found Ostigard at the near post and with a free header he glanced home five minutes before the interval.

Ireland ended the half without a shot on target, a skewed Robinson effort in the third minute the best they could muster in a feeble opening effort.

Norway went into the interval a goal to the good but they were extremely lucky to maintain that lead with John Egan going close before Morten Thorsby fortunately saw his desperate clearance evade the post.

Ireland were a different animal in the second period and created a plethora of chances in the third quarter, peppering the Norway goal with a series of efforts.

The best of those fell to Browne who found himself onside from a header into the box but he fired straight at Orjan Nyland who was out rapidly to deny him.

Browne had another opportunity seconds later but a much more difficult glancing header was comfortably saved by the former Aston Villa misfit.

Gavin Bazunu had to react smartly to deny Ola Solbakken but Ireland kept steaming forward with Callum O’Dowda and Callum Robinson at the heart of everything.

After a few nearly moments in the area, the returning Josh Cullen picked out an unmarked O’Dowda with a delicious diagonal but the wing back’s header was limp and easily saved by Nyland.

It was third time lucky for Preston North End midfielder Browne. After O’Dowda’s cross was headed away he drilled a beautiful cut shot low past Nyland to tee up the last 20 minutes as the Aviva Crowd got more entertainment than they would have expected at half time.

Eighteen year-old Evan Ferguson came on in the dying embers for his debut as he became the fourth youngest debutant in Irish history. But it would end on a sour note with Stale Solbakken’s side leaving with the victory.

A game that might be remembered for the debut of Ferguson, but hardly anything else with Kenny probably grateful Haaland wasn’t on hand to pounce on a sloppy Irish rear guard.

Republic of Ireland: Gavin Bazunu; Nathan Collins, Matt Doherty, John Egan (c), Dara O'Shea; Alan Browne (Evan Ferguson 88), Joshua Cullen, Jayson Molumby (Jeff Hendrick 81), Callum O'Dowda (Robbie Brady 73); Michael Obafemi (Chiedozie Ogbene 63), Callum Robinson.
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Mark Travers, Séamus Coleman, Liam Scales, Darragh Lenihan, Will Smallbone, Mark Sykes, James McClean, Jamie McGrath.

Norway: Orjan Nyland; Patrick Berg (Stiane Rode Gregerson 93), Fredrik André Bjorkan (Birger Meling 65), Leo Skiri Ostigard, Stefan Strandberg; Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Julian Ryerson 65), Martin Odegaard (c), Ola Solbakken, Morten Thorsby (Ola Brynhildsen 73); Mohamed Elyounoussi, Jorgen Strand Larsen (Ohi Omoijuanfo 73).
Subs not used: Marius Lode, Kristoffer Zachariassen, Mats Moller Daehli, Hugo Vetlesen, Egil Selvik.

Referee: Allard Lindhout (NED)
Attendance: 41,000
extratime.com Player of the Match: Alan Browne