In Oslo, a Scandinavian derby that began at full speed finished in Norway’s favour, with Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg unable to prevent Denmark slipping to a 3-2 Nations League defeat on Thursday night.
The move
Denmark had been hit twice inside the opening 18 minutes. Oscar Bobb opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Martin Ødegaard picked him out, before Erling Haaland doubled Norway’s lead four minutes later with a powerful finish at the end of a rapid attack.
Højbjerg and Denmark refused to fold. Mikkel Damsgaard brought them back into the contest in the 25th minute, beating Ørjan Nyland with an outstanding direct free-kick.
The comeback was completed on the hour. Nyland, the Leipzig goalkeeper, initially made an intervention after Denmark’s corner had exposed the Norwegian defence, but Rasmus Højlund reacted quickest and headed home from close range to make it 2-2.
Norway found one final answer in the 74th minute. Haaland completed his brace by finishing a well-worked corner routine, restoring the hosts’ lead and settling a fiercely contested meeting.
David Wolfe was sent off for Norway in stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, but Ståle Solbakken’s side held on for a winning start to their Nations League campaign.
The French season around it
For Højbjerg, the international result came during his Marseille spell, with the midfielder part of a Denmark side that showed considerable resilience after falling 2-0 behind in Oslo.
His team’s response, led by Damsgaard’s set-piece and Højlund’s equaliser, briefly wiped out Norway’s early advantage. Yet Haaland’s second goal ensured that the Marseille player’s night ended with defeat, rather than a comeback point, in a five-goal Nordic contest.
