Norway late show brings end to Ireland's unbeaten start

NORWAY U21s 3-2 REPUBLIC IF IRELAND U21s

Norway ended the Republic of Ireland Under-21s' winning run in Euro 2025 qualifying by beating Jim Crawford’s team 3-2 at the Marienlyst Stadion in Drammen.

Following Rodolen Opsahl's opener, the Boys in Green were leading after Aidomo Emakhu and Sinclair Armstrong found the back of the net, and the home side came back through an equaliser from Kristian Arnstad before Lasse Nordas scored the winner.

Norway were listed as 'strong favourites’ by locals before a ball was kicked and Ireland responded to the challenge by creating the game’s first chance inside five minutes.

That fell to Armstrong and he stung the palms of Sander Tangvik, and it was followed by a Sam Curtis cross which the goal-keeper plucked out of the air.

Everything was going according to plan until the home side won a corner in the 20th minute and the set-piece was cleared to Eskil Edh. He played a quick pass to Arnstad and the midfielder set up Opsahl to flick the ball in and make it 1-0 to Norway.

Ireland were undeterred by the set-back and an attempt by Emakhu to instantly equalise led to a stretched save by Halvor Rodolen Opsahl.

The players – who came from behind to beat Turkey earlier in the campaign - never once deviated from Crawford’s game plan.

Their reward was a turnover won by pressing Odin Thiago and space opened up for Armstrong to try and score. Leo Hjelde got in the way of the shot and he put the ball into the path of Emakhu, and the striker hit the back of the net in the 36th minute.

Matt Healy opened up the second half with a shot from distance and he narrowly missed the intended target.

Emakhu then played Sinclair into space and the QPR striker won Ireland a corner. Sean Roughan targeted the near post and