EURO U21 Report: Republic of Ireland U21 1 - 1 Norway U21
Sean Roughan of Ireland during the UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland versus Norway Credit: David Ribeiro (ETPhotos)
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There was heartbreak for the young Boys in Green as they conceded a 93rd minute equaliser just when they looked to have at the very least earned a play-off spot for the next under-21 European Championship.
It was Ireland’s Lincoln City left back Roughan who got Ireland’s goal in the 76th minute. Matt Healy’s long pass running onto Johnny Kenny’s low cut back to slot it home with his left boot at the Shed End of Turner’s Cross to the delight of the 5,754 spectators in attendance.
However, Andrea Schjelderup popped up to score a late late goal to keep Norway’s play-off ambitions alive.
Ireland are still very much in the qualification hunt going into the final group game. They travel to Trieste on Tuesday to take on table toppers Italy who sit three points above the Boys in Green. Norway remain two points behind Jim Crawford’s men and will host Turkey at home on the same day.
The first half was a very cagey affair. Norway seemed happy to sit off Ireland to try and take a point home with them. The visitors failed to trouble Tiernan Brooks who Crawford had brought in to start in goal. Kenny came closest to a goal in the first half, running onto a through ball from Ireland skipper Andrew Moran, with his low shot only kept out by the outstrectched boot boot of Sander Tangvik.
Kenny went close again in the 54th minute and the Shamrock Rovers striker will be dissapointed not to turn home a rebound after Roughan had forced a save from a shooting chance that came off another great Moran pass.
Ireland defended their 1-0 lead admirably but were undone by a poor officiating decision. With the clock three minutes by the 90, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty facing his own goal was pulled back by substitute Sindre Walle Egeli but to amazing of all watching on there was no referee’s whistle. Thelonious Aasgaard’s shot was saved by Brooks but the ball fell kindly to Schjelderup who tucked the ball home.
Republic of Ireland U21: Tiernan Brooks; James Abankwah, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Emmanuel Adegboyega; Sam Curtis, Andrew Moran ©, Sean Roughan; Matthew Healy, Killian Phillips (Babajide Adeeko 76); Aidomo Emakhu (Mark O'Mahony 76), Johnny Kenny (Rocco Vata 76).
Subs not used: Killian Cahill, Joshua Keeley, Omotayo Adaramola, Connor O'Riordan, Franco Umeh-Chibueze, Connor O'Brien.
Booked: Andrew Moran (34).
Norway U21: Sander Tangvik; Oliver Johansen Braude, Tobias Kvalvågnes Guddal, Robin Dahl Østrøm, Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik; Isak Hansen-Aarøen, Helland, Kristian Malt Arnstad; Andreas Schjelderup, Joel Mugisha Mvuka, Lasse Selvag Nordas.
Subs not used: Thelonious Aasgaard, Sverre Halseth Nypan, Elias Hoff Melkersen, Magnus Rugland Ree, Brage Skaret, Sindre Walle Egeli
Booked: None.
Attendance: 5,754
extratime.com Player of the Match: Sean Roughan (Republic of Ireland)
