Robbed in Oslo: Solbakken fumes as Norway fall to Portugal

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken expressed bitter disappointment after seeing his side suffer a 2-1 UEFA Nations League defeat against Portugal in Oslo. Despite Erling Haaland scoring his second goal of the international window, defensive lapses allowed Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos to secure victory for the visitors.

Speaking after the match, Solbakken highlighted that Norway controlled possession and created superior scoring opportunities throughout the contest. However, the manager lamented a costly defensive error that allowed Ramos to score Portugal's winner just three minutes after Haaland had leveled the score.

We were the better side, but that's how it goes sometimes. We had more possession and the better chances, but we couldn't score any more goals. We made a serious mistake after the equaliser and couldn't find the net again. Stale Solbakken

Winger Andreas Schjelderup and midfielder Fredrik Aursnes echoed their manager's sentiments, insisting the final scoreline failed to reflect Norway's performance. Schjelderup noted that Portugal scored from their only first-half opportunity, proving the clinical edge of world-class players. Aursnes added that Norway's dominance should have yielded two or three additional goals.

The result leaves Norway on three points in Group A4 alongside Denmark, three points adrift of leaders Portugal. Norway must now regroup quickly as they prepare to travel to Cardiff to face Wales on Thursday evening, with Solbakken demanding greater clinical efficiency from his attackers.