2-1: Haaland beats Oblak but Norway lose and things get complicated

Norway still has to sweat out its promotion to League A of the Nations League. Erling Haaland seemed to win his wrist over Jan Oblak, Atlético’s goalkeeper, by advancing on the ‘Vikings’ as soon as the second half began, but the promising Benjamin Sesko overcame Manchester City’s crack with the excellent goal in which the Slovenia came from behind at the Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana.

Norway conceded their first defeat in this group 4 of League B. However, they continue to lead with 10 points, but Serbia can catch up if they beat Sweden tonight in Belgrade before visiting Oslo on Tuesday on the final day in a decisive game. something is at stake in the promotion.

Slovenia opened their record of wins and, with 5 points, escaped relegation to League C for now and will await the result of Sweden (3 points) against Serbia.

Odegaard–Östigard connection

Norway dominated the first half with over 60 percent possession but their chances came mainly from set pieces as a result of Martin Odegaard and Leo Östigard linking up.

The Napoli centre-back scored in the 9th minute by heading in a lateral free kick kicked from the right by Odegaard, but the referee disallowed the goal as he pushed Jasmin Kurtic before the end.

Östigard caught all of Odegaard’s balls centered on the play techniques and, in the 24th minute, after his team-mate Kristian Thorstvedt extended the former Madrid player’s corner kick for the first time, hit he deflected a header that Oblak took out with his right arm. a display of reflexes.

the haaland appears

Haaland barely entered the game, but as usual, he appeared on a counter led by Odegaard and his left-footed shot fell into the corner but just outside the net (36′).

Just before half-time Odegaard and Östigard connected again from a free-kick and Oblak, well positioned and safe, blocked a powerful header from the Napoli centre-back.

In the second half, Haaland hardly needed a few seconds to open the scoring with a strange move. Oblak cut short Zan Karnicnik with his foot, who initially tried to send a teammate to the wing, but unfortunately the ball tripped Mohamed Elyounoussi and fell to Haaland, who, alone, nailed the net of his shot in the half turn.

Slovak reaction

Norway took control of the game, but they had no Slovenian reaction after the game time started to take shape in a controversial counterattack. Petar Stojanovic gave a fantastic drive past several defenders, but at the last moment, slightly off balance by a defender’s opposition, he could not connect his shot properly against goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

The referee did not give a penalty in the face of local protests, but this move served as an incentive for the Slovenians, who equalized five minutes later (69′) after a great reward from the left by Benjamin Sesko, who ended up serving the goal to Andraz Sporar with a layup with a cross at the far post that he just had to push away.

Staale Solbakken, the Norwegian coach, decided to retire Odegaard (71′) and the game opened with hits on both goals. Sesko starred in another arrival from the left but was unable to set up his shot to stun Nyland (74′) and moments later Morten Thorsby called for Oblak’s intervention to deflect his shot from close range after a defensive rebound (77′).

A great goal from the coveted Sesko

But Sesko, the sought-after 19-year-old striker who has already signed with Leipzig for next season, was ‘on fire’ and showed all his promising qualities with the goal that decided the game.

Andreas Hanche-Olsen cleared a jump with Sporar and the ball fell to Sesko, who brought it down with his chest, settled it with his thigh and without letting it fall, he hit a shot from outside of the box to beat Nyland (81′) . It was the third international goal for this promising player who eventually overshadowed Haaland.