Ireland U21s fume as Norway snatch controversial late goal at Turner's Cross
Mark O'Mahony shows his frustration after the draw with Norway at Turner's Cross. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
A punch to the stomach for the Republic of Ireland at Turner's Cross.
The Boys In Green were seconds away from securing a UEFA U21 European Championship playoff place.
A Sean Roughan goal looked like being enough, but Norway levelled in the dying stages of second-half stoppage time through Andreas Schjelderup, after what looked a certain foul on the edge of the box in the build and led to boos from the crowd, cost them.
Ireland came into this huge clash on Leeside knowing that a victory would secure a playoff place for qualification to next summer’s U21 Euros.
Backed by a big crowd of 5,754 on Leeside, Jim Crawford’s side included former Cork City midfielder Matt Healy and ex-City keeper Tiernan Brooks in the starting 11, with fellow Leeside natives Mark O’Mahony and Franco Umeh amongst the substitutes.
The opening stages were generally low-key and with both sides cancelling each other out. Norway were passing the ball about well in the early minutes and had Joel Mvuka looking lively in possession, but they were unable to create a clear-cut opportunity on target.
Ireland almost forged an opening on the quarter of an hour through some good work and a low cross by Sean Roughan, but unfortunately, there was nobody on the end of it.
By the midway point of the first half Norway had their hosts pinned back, but the visitors still at this stage were unable to muster up a clear-cut chance.
It was Ireland that created the best chance of the first half in the 33rd minute when Andrew Moran played a lovely through ball into the path of Johnny Kenny, with the Shamrock Rovers attacker seeing his low strike saved by Norway goalkeeper Sander Tangvk.
At the end of a tight and scrappy opening half of football, there was nothing to separate these two sides.
Norway saw a shot on the edge of the box from Andreas Schjelderup blocked down well by Ireland defender Emmanuel Adegboyega in the 54th minute.
Ireland then went close themselves as Sean Roughan saw his drilled shot saved, with Kenny firing over from close range on the rebound.
Then just before the hour mark, Andrew Moran saw his strike go wide of the mark after being played through.
Norway got into a dangerous position on 67 minutes when Andreas Schjelderup went on a good run on the break, but he was dispossessed before getting his shot away. The same man a few minutes later blasted well off target when the ball broke to him from a corner kick.
Ireland continued to go on the front foot, with Aidomo Emhkau looking for a penalty after a charging run towards the box. On 72 minutes Moran blasted over the crossbar for the hosts.
However Ireland did find the breakthrough just two minutes later. After a lovely ball from Matt Healy and a good ball across the goalmouth by Kenny, on hand to blast into the back of the net impressively was Roughan.
There was a nice reception for Carrigaline native Mark O’Mahony who was then introduced into the action.
Norway pushed for a leveller, which duly arrived in second-half stoppage time when Schjelderup The Irish U21s now fly out to play against Italy in their final qualifying game in Trieste, which takes place on Tuesday at 5.30pm, Irish time.
Tiernan Brooks; Sam Curtis, James Abankwah, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty, Sean Roughan; Killian Phillips, Matt Healy, Andrew Moran; Johnny Kenny, Aidomo Emakhu.
Mark O’Mahony for Kenny, Babajide Adeeko for Phillips, Rocco Vata for Emakhu (all 77).
Sander Tangvk; Oliver Braude, Tobias Guddal, Robin Østrøm, Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik; Isak Hansen-Aarøen, Evind Helland, Kristian Arnstad; Andreas Schjelderup, Lasse Nordås, Joel Mvuka.
Elias Melkersen for Nordås, Sindre Walle Egeli for Braude, Thelo Aasgaard for Hansen-Aarøen (all 81), Sverre Nypan for Østrøm (90), Brage Skaret for Schjelderup (93).
Javier Alberola Rojas (Spain).
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