Erling Haaland's late penalty rounded off a 3-1 victory for Norway over Wales, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the Nations League quarter-finals alive.
Norway 3-1 Wales: Haaland keeps quarter-final hopes alive
Norway kept themselves in with a chance of finishing in Group A4's top two, ending Wales' hopes of a quarter-final place in the process.
Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schjelderup had put Norway in a commanding position early in the second half, but Wales threatened a comeback after David Brooks halved the deficit, only for Haaland's goal to end their hopes of reaching the knockouts.
Harry Wilson's improvised volley bounced well wide in the second minute for Wales before Norway started to impose themselves on the contest, with Thelo Aasgaard and Torbjorn Heggem failing to hit the target from corners.
But Wales continued to prove a threat on the break, with Dan James squandering two golden opportunities after beating Norway's defence for pace. He also forced Egil Selvik into a sharp save at his near post just before the break as Wales finished the first half on a high.
Norway – who failed to have a shot on target in the first half – improved after half-time, though, and hit the front in the 59th minute when Nusa pounced on a half-cleared corner to drill into the bottom-left corner.
The hosts doubled their lead nine minutes later; they neatly played out from the back, and Haaland unselfishly teed up Schjelderup to guide it in from the right of the box.
Wales responded well, though, with Neco Williams slicing wide before Ethan Ampadu forced a fine stop out of Selvik.
Brooks halved the deficit 79 minutes in, playing a one-two with Wilson to drive into the box, where he shrugged off David Moller Wolfe before dinking a lovely finish over Selvik.
Norway wrapped things up in the 88th minute, though, with Roberts penalised for a foul on Schjelderup in the box, and Haaland made no mistake from 12 yards, hitting the net after a stuttered run-up.
Haaland struck the post – albeit from an offside position – before Nusa forced a sharp save out of Karl Darlow, and the Manchester City striker then saw an effort cleared off the line as Norway were denied a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Norway regain their groove when it matters most
Norway had lost each of their last three Nations League matches – including a 2-1 loss to Wales in the reverse fixture – but three points in their penultimate Group A4 game have kept them in the hunt.
The win here has ensured they will not finish fourth in the group, while their fate will go down to the final-day meeting with Denmark, who play Portugal later on Saturday.
Things had not looked so bright for Norway at half-time, with Wales the team in the ascendancy, though they only got one of their four first-half shots on target.
Norway ultimately finished on 15 attempts, though all six of their efforts on target came in the second half as they brilliantly upped the pressure, and overperformed their 2.56 expected goals (xG).
Haaland was, of course, influential as he netted his 23rd Nations League goal, more than any other player has managed in the competition's history.
But Nusa was also pivotal as he bagged the opener. He netted his 10th goal for Norway and has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 11 home games for the nation (five goals, five assists).
As for Wales, they cannot finish in the top two after this result, but they will now be eyeing an upset against Portugal in order to make sure they avoid direct relegation.
