Alexander Sørloth’s lead goal after a corner kick in the 18th minute seemed to be the only hero of the match until substitute Ondrej Duda in the 86th minute wrangled the ball past Kristian Thorstvedt, pulled off Kristoffer Ajer and scored with the visitors’ first finish on goal.
Bergen’s David Møller Wolfe got the last half hour at left back for Norway, after being replaced by Fredrik Bjørkan in the 62nd minute.
In overtime it was about to go completely wrong when Adam Obert was played through after a corner kick, but Ørjan Nyland saved Norway from another loss.
A shot on the crossbar, a missed penalty, a strict cancellation and several great saves by Fulham’s reserve goalkeeper Marek Rodak separated Norway from tennis numbers in the rain (and eventually the snow) at Ullevaal.
Erling Braut Haaland took a penalty after Mohamed Elyounoussi was brought down in the box early in the 2nd half, but Rodak reached the shot outside the post and hit for a corner. Haaland left the field goalless after an hour.
On a day when the U21, U19 and U17 national teams all won their European Championship qualifiers, and the G19 team qualified for the play-offs, the best team should have won as well. Instead, the team went on another disappointment.
Slovakia were nowhere near a chance in the first hour, but came up with some opportunities before the equaliser.
Facts: Norway – Slovakia 1-1
Norway – Slovakia 1-1 (1-0)
Ullevaal Stadium
9099 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Alexander Sørloth (18), 1-1 Ondrej Duda (87).
Missed penalty kick: Erling Braut Haaland (52).
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili, Georgia.
Yellow card: Norbert Gyombér (65), Slovakia, Leo Østigård (87), Norway.
The teams:
Norway (4-5-1): Ørjan Nyland – Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Østigård, Fredrik Bjørkan (David Møller Wolfe from 62.) – Oscar Bobb (Antonio Nusa from 62.), Martin Ødegaard (Patrick Berg from 78. ), Sander Berge, Mohamed Elyounoussi (Kristian Thorstvedt from 62), Alexander Sørloth – Erling Braut Haaland (Jørgen Strand Larsen from 61).
Unused reserves: Mathias Dyngeland, Egil Selvik – Jesper Daland, Hugo Vetlesen, Aron Dønnum, Andreas Hanche-Olsen.
Slovakia (4-5-1): Marek Rodak – Michal Tomic, Norbert Gyömbér, Adam Obert, Vernon De Marco (Dávid Hancko fra 46.) – David Duris, Juraj Kucka, Patrik Hrosovský (Stanislav Lobotka fra 56.), László Bénes (Ondrej Duda fra 46.), Lukás Haraslín (Lubomir Tupta fra 56.) – Róbert Bozeník (Leo Sauer fra 83.).
Reserve: Dominik Takac, Henrich Ravas – Sebastian Kosa, Marek Kristian Bartos, Matus Kmet, Tomas Rigo, Róbert Mak, Tomas Nemcik, Dominik Holly.
Third attempt
In the 18th minute, Martin Ødegaard took one of his dangerous corner kicks. Mohamed Elyounoussi stumbled at the near post, and inside the goal yard Sander Berge had two shots that were both blocked, the last one with his arm. The referee did not have time to blow before Sørloth wide-sided the rebound into the goal.
The goal was VAR-checked for a long time for possible offside at Sørloth when the ball was blocked by Moi, but it was approved.
Norway completely dominated against an EC-ready, but admittedly injury-reduced Slovakia team that had more than enough to defend itself.
With a particularly toxic trio on the right in Julian Ryerson, Oscar Bobb and Ødegaard, the Norwegians created opportunities in quick succession, and the only thing lacking was a score.
Bobb and Ryerson collaborated to create the first, which ended with the latter’s shot being cleared over his own goal by Adam Obert. On the corner kick, Kristoffer Ajer tripped Berge, who missed with the reception right in front of the goal.
Then Bobb made an attempt to repeat his beautiful goal against the Czech Republic, when he passed between opponents, played a wall with Ryerson and shot from an acute angle, but the shot was blocked.
Haaland then hit his opponent in the air on a cross from Ryerson, but the header went over. Still not a quarter of an hour had been played.
Watered in chances
After the lead, Norway created three great chances in one minute just before the half-hour mark. First, Ødegaard loaded his shooting foot on a pass from Haaland and sent a rush into the crossbar away at the farthest cross. Then Bobb played a wall with Haaland and was through, but Rodak saved. Bobb was then played forward by Ødegaard, but again the visitors managed to block.
On the eve of the half, new big chances came from Sørloth, Ødegaard and Haaland. The latter’s shot was blocked for a corner, and on the serve from Ødegaard, Sørloth nodded in the goal. The cheering was stopped by the referee, who canceled for a shove in the back of Obert.
Norway went into the break with only 1-0, but at least had more goals than Slovakia had had chances.
Just five minutes into the second half, Norway pressed hard and regained the ball at Sørloth. Haaland played Moi through, and he was brought down by Norbert Gyömbér. A very clear penalty kick.
Haaland shot hard towards the corner, but Rodak parried with a tiger leap.
A little later, there was a VAR check for a possible penalty after Sørloth nodded wide on a Norwegian free kick, but then the grip was a little loose for the Norwegians, as it did in both halves against the Czech Republic on Friday. Once again, it was punishing on the tamp.