Ireland U21s suffer first Euro qualifier loss in five-goal thriller with Norway
UEFA European Under-21 Qualifiers Group A
Norway 3 (Opsahl 20, Arnstad 73 pen, Nordas 77) Republic of Ireland 2 (Emakhu 37, Armstrong 53)
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
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