Ireland U21s suffer first Euro qualifier loss in five-goal thriller with Norway
SETBACK: Anselmo GarcĂa McNulty and team-mates contest a yellow card. Photo by Marius Simensen/Sportsfile
The Republic of Ireland Under-21s’ winning start to Euro 2025 qualifying is over after they let three points slip in the final 20 minutes of a freezing night in Drammen.
The strike partnership of Aidomo Emakhu and Sinclair Armstrong, who grew up as neighbours in Clondalkin and teammates at Shamrock Rovers, both scored to overcome an early deficit. The premature substitution of man of the match Emakhu proved costly, however.
Norway kept the cooler heads in sub-zero temperatures, dispatching a penalty before a 77th-minute winner from back-up striker Lasse Nordas.
The penalty was the turning point but manager Jim Crawford didn’t have any complaints over the decision to punish Matt Healy for pulling back Leeds United’s Leo Hjelde.
“It was a penalty, no doubt about it,” said Crawford. “We were 2-1 up and comfortable. They didn’t create us any problems and we looked more likely to get that next goal.
“But the penalty gave them a little momentum and they got the third goal.”
The result saw Crawford’s side drop to third in Group A, behind Norway on goals difference and one point off of leaders Italy, who they meet in Cork on Tuesday.
“We can't feel sorry for ourselves,” he said. “We've got a massive game coming up against Italy in Turner's Cross. It's about getting ourselves ready for that game from now.”
Crawford made five changes from their 2-1 victory over Latvia last month. With skipper Joe Hodge recovering from shoulder surgery and vice-captain Andy Moran competing for a senior debut, Anselmo Garcia MacNuty was handed the armband on his return from injury.
Emakhu was given his first start up front and the Millwall marksman was a bundle of energy as he linked up with his childhood pal.
“We’ve been playing with each other for some years now,” said Emakhu, “at international level, at club level back in Ireland, and we played together for the school football team.
“We’ve always had that connection on the pitch. We know where each other are and we know where we like the ball.
“We definitely enjoyed it tonight. Despite the result, a goal for each of us is a positive to take.”
Emakhu won back possession time and again, including for Armstrong’s first chance in the third minute which was driven straight at Sander Tangvik.
Bosun Lawal and Connor O’Riordan dealt comfortably with the false-nine role of Manchester United prospect Isak Hansen-Aaroen but a set-piece would prove their undoing in the 20th minute.
After his corner was initially repelled, Kristian Arnstad was given too much time to deliver the second ball onto the head of Halvor Rodolen Opsahl who sent it looping over Josh Keeley in goal.
Emakhu directed the Irish response. He forced Tangvik into a strong save and in the 37th minute, he had the goal his play deserved.
He harassed Celtic’s €3-million midfielder Odin Thiago Holm into a mistake and when Armstrong’s shot was blocked, it fell perfectly for his fellow Dubliner to sweep into the bottom corner.
Emakhu smashed the crossbar on the half-volley, although it was called back for offside, before his telepathic understanding with Armstrong gave Ireland the lead in the 53rd minute.
The QPR target man won the flick on from Garcia MacNulty’s long ball and Emakhu knew what to do, playing it straight back into Armstrong’s path. He showed why he’s been given his senior debut by Stephen Kenny with his first-time finish making it look easy.
Emakhu’s replacement Johnny Kenny almost made it three after some quick thinking from Healy. Tangvik’s trailing leg just took it the wrong side of the post.
That would prove costly when the penalty allowed Arnstad to dispatch a power-packed spot-kick beyond Keeley’s reach.
Ireland fell behind four minutes later. Joel Mugisha spun past Lawal and back-up striker Nordas produced a brilliant finish off the underside of the crossbar.
They piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Garcia MacNulty’s stoppage-time header was cleared away from danger by Opsahl.
Tangvik; Edh (Sjovold 57), Opsahl, Hjelde, Oppegard; Arnstad, Holm (Nordas 57), Zafeiris; Mugisha, Hansen-Aaroen, Gulliksen (Karlsbakk 57).
Keeley; Lawal, O’Riordan, Garcia MacNulty; Curtis, Adeeko (O’Neill 83), Healy, Leavy (Phillips 70), Roughan (Adaramola 83); Emakhu (Kenny 62), Armstrong.
W Altmann (AUT).
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