Alexander Isak screamer helps sink Northern Ireland, Wales rescue dramatic draw in North Macedonia
Published 25/03/2025 at 23:27 GMT
There was late drama in North Macedonia as Craig Bellamy's Wales escaped with a point from their UEFA World Cup qualifier having gone behind in injury time. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, were heavily beaten by Sweden in a friendly in Stockholm, with Alexander Isak continuing his scintillating form, while Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland shone for Norway in a dominant victory over Israel.
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Northern Ireland fell to a 5-1 defeat against Sweden in a friendly at Stockholm's Strawberry Arena.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was the star man for the hosts, scoring in the second half with a ferocious strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Prior to that, Isak provided the assist for Emil Holm's seventh-minute opener with a pinpoint pass in the box which was swept home by the Bologna midfielder.
Northern Ireland were 2-0 down at the break after Benjamin Nygren tapped home from close range, and it got significantly worse for Michael O'Neill's youthful side in the second half.
Ken Sema drilled a shot past Pierce Charles just five minutes before Isak's screamer. And the rout was finished off by Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, who met a cross at the back post and converted off the woodwork from a few yards out.
There was some consolation for Northern Ireland when Isaac Price's deflected shot flew in with 89 minutes on the clock, but it was a night to forget in the Swedish capital.
But the result did serve as an emphatic return to form for Jon Dahl Tomasson's side, having fallen to a surprise 1-0 loss against Luxembourg last time out.
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"We obviously didn’t come here to have a scoreline like we had tonight, but we knew it would be a tough game," Northern Ireland boss O’Neill said. "I thought probably 2-0 was a little bit harsh on us at half-time, and then the third goal is a poor goal for us to lose off a set-piece.
"But in all honesty, the attitude of the team was great. They never stopped trying to play. It was a tough night but that’s why we took a game like this.
"We’re asking a lot of young players who aren’t playing every week for their clubs. They are not exposed to this level and this quality of player."
Northern Ireland are next in action against Iceland in a friendly in June, before UEFA World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany in September.
Brooks the late hero as Wales earn draw
Wales scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser in their World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia having gone behind moments earlier in stoppage-time.
In a tight, cagey affair, Craig Bellamy's side largely controlled possession but could not find a way through their stubborn hosts.
The game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw until Bojan Miovski was sent clean through on goal by an errant pass from Joe Allen in the first minute of injury time. Girona striker Miovski made no mistake with his finish, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
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Bojan Miovski (20) of North Macedonia and his teammates celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match between North Macedonia and Wales.
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But that, to the relief of the vocal Welsh travelling contingent, was not the end of the drama. A long ball into the box was nodded down by Brennan Johnson, before ricocheting off a defender and falling kindly to David Brooks, who prodded the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to level with seconds remaining.
That sparked jubilant scenes among the away fans in Skopje. Having stared a potentially damaging defeat in the face, Wales would instead be travelling home with a valuable point.
"A rollercoaster of emotions. A game we were more in control of than I thought we would be. I really liked us, I thought we were really good," Bellamy said.
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"We knew they’d play for set-plays and we kept giving away free-kicks and a corner. Then we made a mistake and they score, but even then I didn’t feel it was over.
"When I found out the minute we equalised I thought ‘wow’. What an incredible group, eh? We didn’t deserve to get nothing from the game, no way.
"I thought North Macedonia would be more on the front foot, but they were five at the back. I will have to go through the game again. My main reaction? Probably shock, still.
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"But we definitely didn’t deserve to lose the game.
"The fans feel a connection to these players. This result tonight in the long run will give us so much. We didn’t accept that losing was meant to be."
Bellamy's side are next in action in June, when they host Liechtenstein before a trip to group favourites Belgium, who are yet to begin their qualifying game because of Nations League commitments.
Haaland and Odegaard star for free-scoring Norway
Norway's big-name players were on form at Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary, proving too good for Israel in a 4-2 World Cup qualifying victory.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard finished with a hat-trick of assists, setting up David Moller Wolfe's opener just before half-time.
He set up Alexander Sorloth after the break, before turning provider for Erling Haaland to net his 40th goal in 41 international appearances.
It was the second win of an impressive international break for Norway, who thrashed Moldova 5-0 last week to get their qualification campaign up and running.
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