Northern Ireland suffered a bruising 5-1 Nations League defeat by Norway in manager Ian Baraclough’s first home game in charge.
A frantic start saw Paddy McNair equalise Mohamed Elyounoussi’s second-minute opener before the the visitors took control at Windsor Park.
The impressive Erling Haaland scored with two excellent strikes, while Alexander Sorloth also netted a double.
NI drew 1-1 with Romania in their first match in the competition on Friday.
After the euphoria of Gavin Whyte’s late equaliser which earned a point in Bucharest after Josh Magennis had been sent off, this loss was a chastening experience for the squad.
The only positive was captain Steven Davis equalling Pat Jennings’ all-time appearance record of 119 matches, but the Rangers man will be in no mood for celebrations after he and his team-mates were outclassed.
Three-one down after 19 minutes thanks to goals from Elyounoussi, Haaland and Sorloth, it remained that scoreline until half-time before another quickfire double from Haaland and Sorloth soon after the break took the game away from a hapless home side.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Northern Ireland
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 2Smith
- 4BallardBooked at 36minsSubstituted forBoyceat 45′minutes
- 20CathcartBooked at 69mins
- 11Ferguson
- 8Davis
- 15Thompson
- 14Dallas
- 17McNair
- 6SavilleSubstituted forEvansat 71′minutes
- 16WashingtonSubstituted forLaveryat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Galbraith
- 5McLaughlin
- 7McGinn
- 9Boyce
- 10Lafferty
- 12McGovern
- 13Evans
- 19Cooper
- 21McCalmont
- 22Lavery
- 23Carson
Norway
- 1Jarstein
- 14ElabdellaouiSubstituted forSvenssonat 79′minutes
- 5Hovland
- 3Ajer
- 2AleesamiSubstituted forMelingat 78′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8JohansenSubstituted forKingat 71′minutes
- 19Henriksen
- 21Normann
- 11Elyounoussi
- 9Sørloth
- 23Haaland
Substitutes
- 4Hanche-Olsen
- 6Gabrielsen
- 7King
- 10Fossum
- 12Nyland
- 13Løvseth Rossbach
- 15Berge
- 16Svensson
- 17Linnes
- 18Berg
- 20Thorsby
- 22Meling
- Referee:
- Bartosz Frankowski
Live Text
-
Match ends, Northern Ireland 1, Norway 5.
-
Second Half ends, Northern Ireland 1, Norway 5.
-
Birger Meling (Norway) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Stuart Dallas (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Foul by Birger Meling (Norway).
-
Attempt blocked. Alexander Sørloth (Norway) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Erling Haaland.
-
Corry Evans (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Markus Henriksen (Norway).
-
Attempt blocked. Patrick McNair (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
-
Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Birger Meling.
-
Shane Ferguson (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Alexander Sørloth (Norway).
-
Foul by Liam Boyce (Northern Ireland).
-
Jonas Svensson (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Jordan Thompson (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Birger Meling (Norway).
-
Attempt saved. Mathias Normann (Norway) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
-
Foul by Steven Davis (Northern Ireland).
-
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Norway) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Attempt missed. Steven Davis (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
Source link
