Wales will finish bottom of Group A4 after the defeat in Oslo and could now face a relegation play-off in March.
Norway beat Wales 3-1 at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on Saturday, leaving Wales bottom of Group A4 whatever happens against Portugal on Tuesday. The win was wrapped up by a late penalty from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, which took his Nations League goals record to 23.
Wales posed the greater threat in a goalless first half. Winger Daniel James twice shot wide after Harry Wilson set him up, then forced Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik into the first save of the game.
Norway broke through after an hour. Antonio Nusa drilled in from the edge of the penalty area after Wales failed to clear a Norway corner properly. Substitute Andreas Schjelderup then tapped home Haaland's pass nine minutes later to double the lead.
Wales came back through substitute David Brooks, the Bournemouth forward, who chipped a delicate finish 11 minutes from time. Connor Roberts then brought down Schjelderup, and Haaland converted the penalty two minutes from time.
Wales boss Craig Bellamy said he felt his side had lost some momentum in the second half. He assessed the performance as a whole:
"There is loads for us to improve on but I've liked a lot of it, I have to be honest."
Wales also missed out on top seeding. A top-three finish in the group would have put them in pot one for next month's Euro 2028 draw in Belfast. Bellamy said: "We wanted to be in pot one. That was the drive."
Norway had lost three successive matches for the first time in a decade before this game, and had won only one of their four group fixtures. Wales had beaten them in Cardiff a month earlier, their first win at this level, and Norway avenged that defeat in Oslo.
Haaland's penalty took his tally to 66 goals in 60 internationals. According to a statistic shared by the Stats Foot account, reported by Goal, he is the first European player to reach 66 goals in his first 60 internationals since German legend Gerd Müller did so for Germany in 1974.
Wales cannot overtake Norway or Denmark because of their head-to-head records. A March play-off could now be what stands between them and relegation into Group B.
No comments yet