National Team, Football | Haaland and Ødegaard secured victory for Norway:
ULLEVAAL STADION (Nettavisen): Norway was the leading team throughout Friday’s private international match against Slovakia, but the Norwegian national team players struggled for a long time to get the ball in goal.
But in the 77th minute it finally sat for Norway. Haaland sent Norway in the lead after a great pass from Kristian Thorstvedt.
– It is elegantly done by both Thorstvedt and Haaland. Look at the ending, said TV 2 expert Jesper Mathisen.
– And again, Kristian Thorstvedt is involved in the crucial situations for Norway. Enormous with goal points on him, commentator Øyvind Alsaker followed up.
– A classic Erling goal. Many shoot hard there, but he tilts it over the keeper, said Ståle Solbakken about the goal.
Read also: Stock market: How Norway played against Slovakia
And just three minutes later, Ødegaard woke up with magic. The national team captain curled the ball in the cross with his left foot. Thus, Norway’s two biggest stars ensured victory against Slovakia.
– It is simply art what Martin Ødegaard does here, Mathisen said about Ødegaard’s beautiful scoring.
– He shows once again that he has a left foot in the highest world class, the expert followed up shortly after.
Satisfied Solbakken
Solbakken was a happy man after the match, and thought it was a deserved Norwegian victory.
– I am very happy with the implementation. It was rock solid. In international matches, it is very rare that you create 9-10 great chances and opponents have nothing but a post shot, said Solbakken.
He admitted that for a while he was a little afraid that it would end like against Latvia last year (0-0).
– The goal should have come much sooner. There was a bit of Latvia vibes for a while, because we had as many chances as then, but we did not give up until we decided. In such matches it is easy to fall a little towards the end, but we managed to drive on, he said.
Crossbar hits from fiery Moi
It was far from full at Ullevaal Stadium on Friday night, but the Norwegian players still looked quite screwed from the start.
And it did not take long before those present had to get up from their chairs, after a good Norwegian chance after seven minutes.
Holmgren Pedersen played well to Haaland, who again sent a good pass to Elyounoussi. The left wing fired off and the ball slammed into the crossbar.
After half-time, Moi was dangerous up front again. The Southampton player fired from a sharp angle, but the Slovakian goalkeeper turned away to the corner.
A few minutes later it was Ødegaard who got to try his shot. Moi scored for Ødegaard at 20 meters, and the national team captain knocked. Slovakia goalkeeper Marek Rodak once again kept up with a great save, and he also took back from an offside-placed Holmgren Pedersen.
Norway continued to roll up several fine attacks, and in the 37th minute Moi came to his third big chance in the first half. From the left, he should enter the field and finish with the right, but the ball went just outside the crossbar.
Norway was the leading team in the first half, and apart from a slightly scary finish from Slovakia, it was Norway that looked scariest. But the teams still went to the break at the position 0-0.
Counting from the stars
Norway continued to push Slovakia in the second half, and early in the round with Haaland for their first chance. The Norwegian star player finished from a fine position, but the shot went straight at the goalkeeper.
Twelve minutes into the round, Moi came to another good chance. He pulled into the field and curled the ball towards the longest, but the Slovakian goalkeeper saved masterfully.
Slovakia signed up more after a while, and in the 66th minute the away team came to a huge chance. Patrik Hrosovský shot moments from 20 meters, and the ball bounced in the post behind Nyland.
Norway struck back a few minutes later. This time it was Sørloth who came to a great chance. The Real Sociedad striker came to the finish in good position after excellent preparation by Sander Berge, but the finish to Sørloth went straight to the keeper.
In the 77th minute, however, it should finally sit for Norway. Thorstvedt kept up with a beautiful stick through to Haaland, who chipped the ball elegantly into goal.
Three minutes later it was left for Norway. Møller Dæhli hit Ødegaard, who saw that it was vacant in the longest intersection. The captain curled the ball beautifully into the far corner.