Haaland brace lifts Norway over Denmark in thriller
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway opened its Nations League campaign with an entertaining 3-2 win over Denmark, despite finishing the game with 10 men.
Having trailed 2-0 after 18 minutes, Denmark fought back valiantly to level the match between Scandinavian rivals, but Haaland's second goal proved to be the winner, with the host surviving a late red card for David Moller Wolfe.
Two of Norway's other Premier League stars combined to give it the advantage in the 14th minute, as Oscar Bobb took in Martin Odegaard's cute pass, then shaped a curling finish around Denmark defender Oliver Provstgaard and into the far corner.
Norway did not have to wait long for its second goal, as Antonio Nusa skipped infield and played a clever reverse pass in behind for Haaland, whose driven finish went straight through Filip Jorgensen.
Denmark found a route back into the contest in the 25th minute, with Mikkel Damsgaard's free-kick dipping over the Norway wall and beating Orjan Nyland, though only a superb reflex stop from Jorgensen prevented Patrick Berg from making it 3-1 late in the first half.
The visitor drew level on the hour mark, with Rasmus Hojlund reacting quickest to nod home when Nyland blocked Morten Hjulmand's downward header from a corner.
Haaland re-established Norway's lead when he lashed inside the near post after a well-worked corner routine that saw Odegaard receive a short pass from Nusa, reach the byline, and cut the ball back for the Manchester City talisman.
Moller Wolfe received his second yellow card three minutes into stoppage time, having blocked Gustav Isaksen's run down the right as Denmark chased another equaliser, but Norway held on.
Erling Braut Haaland
Norway
