Erling Haaland scores twice as Norway beat Denmark 3-2

Erling Haaland continued his fine form with two goals as Norway beat Denmark 3-2 in Oslo in their opening UEFA Nations League match.

The Manchester City striker netted seven times in a historic World Cup run for Norway that ended with a quarter-final defeat by England, and this was his first international outing since. He scored his side's second of the evening before slotting the winner, taking Norway top of League A Group 4.

Three goals in 11 minutes

Fulham forward Oscar Bobb broke the deadlock, receiving a pass from Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard before curling delicately into the far corner.

Four minutes later Haaland made it two. Antonio Nusa jinked his way into the box and slipped a ball through for the striker, whose first-time finish beat goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen.

Denmark's reply came quickly. Brentford midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard capped off the third goal inside 11 minutes with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards.

Hojlund levels before Haaland's winner

Former Manchester United striker Rasmus Højlund brought the visitors level on the hour mark, setting up a tense final half hour in Oslo.

Then, with 74 minutes on the clock, a well-worked corner found Haaland in the box and he hammered home his second and Norway's winner.

Late drama as Møller Wolfe is sent off

Norway had to see out the closing stages a man down. Substitute David Møller Wolfe, who had replaced Fredrik Aursnes at 66 minutes, was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.

It was not enough to stop Ståle Solbakken's side claiming all three points on the opening night of the campaign.

Norway go top of League A Group 4

The victory put Norway clear at the top of League A Group 4, with Portugal beating Wales 1-0 in the section's other match.

It was a busy Thursday across the Nations League, with the Netherlands drawing 1-1 with Germany, Greece winning 2-1 at Serbia, Austria beating Israel 3-1, Kosovo edging the Republic of Ireland 1-0, Malta winning 2-1 at Andorra and Lithuania beating Liechtenstein 2-0.

An evenly matched contest

The statistics underline how close the game was. Possession finished at 48.8 per cent for Norway and 51.2 for Denmark, with both sides recording 13 shots and seven on target.

Norway had 34 touches inside the opposition box to Denmark's 26 and won five aerial duels to nil, while Denmark's keeper made four saves to Ørjan Nyland's five. Norway committed 14 fouls to Denmark's 10.

Brian Riemer's Denmark lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg as captain, and picked up three bookings, Rasmus Kristensen in the 38th minute, Patrick Dorgu in the 70th and Gustav Isaksen in stoppage time.

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