Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal as Norway secured a 1-0 victory over Finland in an international friendly. The Manchester City striker led the line in what was a strong Norwegian starting eleven, which also included Oscar Bobb and captain Martin Ødegaard.
Given the quality within the squad, Norway were widely expected to win, particularly as they were playing at home. While Finland is an organised and disciplined side, many observers would have predicted a Norwegian victory in such a fixture.
Match Summary
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The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute, with Haaland converting a penalty to give his side the lead, as reported by [NRK](https://www.nrk.no/sport/fotball/). Despite dominating large spells of the match, Norway were unable to add to their advantage. Finland adopted a defensive approach throughout, limiting the hosts to only two shots on target despite sustained pressure.
In total, Norway registered 14 attempts on goal and controlled 57 per cent of possession, but their finishing did not reflect their dominance. Although they created opportunities, the lack of a clinical edge beyond Haaland’s penalty kept the scoreline close until the final whistle.
Looking Ahead
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For Haaland, the goal further underlined his reliability at the international level, while Ødegaard and Bobb both contributed to a composed team display. However, the overall performance left room for improvement, particularly in terms of converting possession into goals.
While the friendly provided an opportunity for match fitness and experimentation, fans will expect a sharper display in the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Moldova later in the international window. With qualification on the line, Norway will need to show greater ruthlessness in front of goal if they are to achieve their objectives.
The victory over Finland nevertheless extended positive momentum, with the team maintaining defensive stability and securing a clean sheet. For supporters, the hope is that Norway’s stars have reserved their strongest performance for when it matters most.