Republic of Ireland 1 - 2 Norway
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Norway left it late to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1in an uninspiring friendly match on Wednesday evening in the Aviva Stadium. A Morten Gamst Pedersen free kick cancelled out Shane Long’s earlier penalty before a late Erik Huseklepp won the game for the visitors.
The game started at a snails pace with Norway content in letting Ireland pass the ball around at ease. That led to John O’Shea bursting out from defence and he played a superb through ball for Shane Long. The Reading striker got around Hangeland and retrieved the ball but he was taken down by the defender who failed to recover his position and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Long dusted himself off and stepped up to fire a low drive to his left past the dive of Knudsen.
Goal number two for Ireland almost arrived after 13 minutes. Doyle played the ball through for Lawrence down the right and he fired in a low cross. Knudsen parried the initial cross, barely missing out on the onrushing Long, and Duff fired in a low strike at goal but the goalkeeper saved on the line with his feet. Glenn Whelan then tried an audacious strike from the half way line but his over-hit effort was off target.
Norway failed to threaten early on and had their first half-chance after 22 minutes when Erik Huseklepp fired in the corner but Petter Vaagan Moen shot over the crossbar.
Ireland continued to boss the play early on and Duff laid the ball off to Cunningham after 26 minutes as the young full-back whipped in a cross towards Doyle. Knudsen beat Doyle to the ball but it fell to Whelan on the edge of the penalty area; his strike went to the left and well wide of the target.
Norway began to take control shortly after however, and they equalised after 34 minutes when Stephen Kelly handled on the edge of the penalty area after halting Thorstein Helstad’s run. Blackburn Rovers midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen stepped up and fired an unstoppable left footed freekick into the top left corner of Shay Given's goal. It was all Norway for the rest of the half as Thorstein Helstad and John Arne Riise both had strikes easily saved by Shay Given.
One minute into the second half and O'Dea's attempted back header was intercepted by B.H. Riise but Given saved, while almost immediately at the other end Pettersen was forced into an impressive save from Shane Long's attempt from just inside the penalty area.
Huseklepp should have given Norway the lead six minutes into the second half after a long ball from defence found the front man running at Given. The Irish 'keeper had come off his line but retreated just in time to save Huseklepp’s attempted lob. Kjetil Waehler lost control of the ball infront of his goal and allowed Shane Long in but his strike was straight at Pettersen. Shortly after McGeady fired over when John Arne Riise had headed clear a corner from Duff.
Cunningham was next to attack but, after a mazy run from full back, his shot was blocked by Hangeland. The game completely lost all shape after that with neither team eager to win the game.
The winning goal did arrive with four minutes to go though. Ruben Yttergard Jenssen played in Morten Gamst Pedersen down the left and he crossed low to the back post where Erik Huseklepp was on hand to shot past the helpless Given to end a stunning break-away move to win the game for visiting side.
The wet and windy conditions certainly played a part in this game, but the booing Irish fans at the end of the game will bemoan the spark that was lacking in a flat, and ofter sloppy, Irish performance. The only positives to take from the game will be the strong performances from Long, along with Cunningham and new-boy Jon Walters.
Republic of Ireland: Given; Kelly, O’Shea, O’Dea (Foley 67’), Cunningham; Lawrence (McGeady HT), Whelan, Fahey, Duff (Hunt 74’); Doyle (Walters HT), Long.
Subs not used: Murphy, Coleman, Wilson, Treacy.
Norway: Knudsen (Pettersen HT); Hogli, Waehler, Hangeland, J.A. Riise, Hauger, Pedersen, Grindheim (Jenssen HT), Helstad (B.H. Riise HT), Kuseklepp (Moldskred 90’), Moen (Haestad 78’).
Subs: Demidov, Parr.
Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland)
Man of the Match: Shane Long.
The game started at a snails pace with Norway content in letting Ireland pass the ball around at ease. That led to John O’Shea bursting out from defence and he played a superb through ball for Shane Long. The Reading striker got around Hangeland and retrieved the ball but he was taken down by the defender who failed to recover his position and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Long dusted himself off and stepped up to fire a low drive to his left past the dive of Knudsen.
Goal number two for Ireland almost arrived after 13 minutes. Doyle played the ball through for Lawrence down the right and he fired in a low cross. Knudsen parried the initial cross, barely missing out on the onrushing Long, and Duff fired in a low strike at goal but the goalkeeper saved on the line with his feet. Glenn Whelan then tried an audacious strike from the half way line but his over-hit effort was off target.
Norway failed to threaten early on and had their first half-chance after 22 minutes when Erik Huseklepp fired in the corner but Petter Vaagan Moen shot over the crossbar.
Ireland continued to boss the play early on and Duff laid the ball off to Cunningham after 26 minutes as the young full-back whipped in a cross towards Doyle. Knudsen beat Doyle to the ball but it fell to Whelan on the edge of the penalty area; his strike went to the left and well wide of the target.
Norway began to take control shortly after however, and they equalised after 34 minutes when Stephen Kelly handled on the edge of the penalty area after halting Thorstein Helstad’s run. Blackburn Rovers midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen stepped up and fired an unstoppable left footed freekick into the top left corner of Shay Given's goal. It was all Norway for the rest of the half as Thorstein Helstad and John Arne Riise both had strikes easily saved by Shay Given.
One minute into the second half and O'Dea's attempted back header was intercepted by B.H. Riise but Given saved, while almost immediately at the other end Pettersen was forced into an impressive save from Shane Long's attempt from just inside the penalty area.
Huseklepp should have given Norway the lead six minutes into the second half after a long ball from defence found the front man running at Given. The Irish 'keeper had come off his line but retreated just in time to save Huseklepp’s attempted lob. Kjetil Waehler lost control of the ball infront of his goal and allowed Shane Long in but his strike was straight at Pettersen. Shortly after McGeady fired over when John Arne Riise had headed clear a corner from Duff.
Cunningham was next to attack but, after a mazy run from full back, his shot was blocked by Hangeland. The game completely lost all shape after that with neither team eager to win the game.
The winning goal did arrive with four minutes to go though. Ruben Yttergard Jenssen played in Morten Gamst Pedersen down the left and he crossed low to the back post where Erik Huseklepp was on hand to shot past the helpless Given to end a stunning break-away move to win the game for visiting side.
The wet and windy conditions certainly played a part in this game, but the booing Irish fans at the end of the game will bemoan the spark that was lacking in a flat, and ofter sloppy, Irish performance. The only positives to take from the game will be the strong performances from Long, along with Cunningham and new-boy Jon Walters.
Republic of Ireland: Given; Kelly, O’Shea, O’Dea (Foley 67’), Cunningham; Lawrence (McGeady HT), Whelan, Fahey, Duff (Hunt 74’); Doyle (Walters HT), Long.
Subs not used: Murphy, Coleman, Wilson, Treacy.
Norway: Knudsen (Pettersen HT); Hogli, Waehler, Hangeland, J.A. Riise, Hauger, Pedersen, Grindheim (Jenssen HT), Helstad (B.H. Riise HT), Kuseklepp (Moldskred 90’), Moen (Haestad 78’).
Subs: Demidov, Parr.
Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland)
Man of the Match: Shane Long.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile