– Two world-class forwards – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

For the first time, Norway started with the leading couple Alexander Sørloth and Erling Braut Haaland. It turned out to be a very good decision from Lars Lagerbäck.

Faced with a desperate Northern Ireland defense, the two spearheads were unstoppable. It was not only the goals, but also the way they arrived that was positive for Lars Lagerbäck. Norway played brilliant attacking football, and the two forwards combined beautifully on several of the goals.

– We have interaction between two world-class forwards. Haaland found his way back to the brutality we saw last year. He has extreme speed and will. He and Sørloth met in a completely different way than the previous pair of forwards against Austria, says NRK soccer expert Morten Morisbak Skjønsberg..

With two goals, Sørloth now has five goals for the national team in his last five games, and Haaland has three goals for the national team in four games. Haaland, 20, in particular, showed his potential with two beautiful goals and a brilliant pass on goal.

– World class, right? His body language is almost natural for him to score, praises former Norway captain and TV2 expert Brede Hangeland.

Together, the two scored 77 goals for the club’s teams last season. The two Norwegian spearheads proved against Northern Ireland that Norway may have a pair of superior spearheads for years to come.

Now, Skjønsberg thinks it’s natural to believe that they will be Norway’s preferred top pair when it comes to playing for a place in the European Championship next month.

– Right now it is natural to think that they should start against Serbia. King looked rusty, but is expected to be in better shape for the next game. It’s great for the team that we have that competition at the top. It’s weird, says Skjønsberg.

Elleville Opening Minutes

Barely two minutes had elapsed when Stefan Johansen found Moi Elyounoussi running down the back post. The winger took the ball on his chest and placed it next to the goalkeeper in a beautiful way.

Norway was not in heaven long. Just three minutes later, Northern Ireland had equalized after lax defensive work by Norway’s closer. Paddy McNair got an easy job setting up the rebound after Jarstein saved from Conor Washington.

Then Haaland showed his class. Six minutes were played when Haaland hit a half volley from outside the right 16 meters inside the post. A brilliant goal from the Dortmund forward.

Norway played brilliant attacking football. Norway’s third was signed by Sørloth, after an attack that rolled from right to left and a beautiful post from Aleesami behind the Northern Ireland defense.

– It was a post by Aleesami, and who else than Sørloth is there. He wants to have this top spot, and there is relatively good competition with King, Haaland and Sørloth, and when these three are in shape, we have something completely, completely extra, said Skjønsberg.

“Ferrari against public transport”

Stefan Johansen has had to endure much criticism for his play in an unknown edge role in the Norwegian national team. Against Northern Ireland, the captain of the national team was fine and was directly involved in three of the goals. After scoring in the first, he started the second with an equally delicate ball in the back room of Erling Braut Haaland.

If the first half started well, Norway were even quicker to get the ball into the net in the second. Haaland used raw power and speed to park Craig Cathcart and selflessly rolled the ball towards Sørloth.

– It’s crazy, and it shows what he showed last year, it’s incredibly fast. And Craig Cathcart looks like an elderly car, and a Norwegian Ferrari sped by, exclaimed Skjønsberg.

A quarter of an hour after the second, Haaland also scored his second goal of the night. Sørloth was again involved in the preparation when he made his way to Elabdellaoui, who in turn made his way to Haaland free. Alone with the porter, Jærbuen was bomb-proof.

Lagerbäck seized the opportunity to pitch on Josh King with 20 minutes to go, keeping Sørloth and Haaland on the field. Therefore, the Swede got a chance to see King on the brink.

In extra time, he almost hated Sørloth’s stunt, once again after being played by Haaland. However, the goal was saved on the line.

Large open group

It was a good night for the Norwegian team as well beyond their own performance in Belfast. In Norway’s second group match, Romania took a surprising away win against Austria.

Goals from Denis Alibec, Alexandru Maxim and Dragus Gregore gave the Romans a solid 3-2 victory.

Thus, they lead the group by four points after two games. The heel notch follows Norway and Austria with three points each.