Neco Williams' free‑kick fuels Wales comeback versus ten‑man Norway

Wales secured a welcome victory over ten‑man Norway at Cardiff, their first win of the year, as a hulking Erling Haaland moped across the turf in a night that turned dramatic.

Early drama and equaliser

Oscar Bobb gave the visitors the lead, his well‑worked strike arriving from a pass by Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal captain who orchestrated Norway’s opening move. Daniel James responded before half‑time, cancelling out Bobb’s goal and restoring parity for Craig Bellamy’s side. The equaliser came just before the restart, setting the stage for a tense second half.

Seventeen seconds after the restart Torbjørn Heggem was shown a red card for a foul on James as the Leeds winger surged towards goal. The dismissal left Norway with ten men and awarded Wales a free‑kick from a dangerous position.

From that set‑piece Neco Williams curled the ball past the Norwegian keeper, clinching the three points for Wales. The decisive strike underscored the impact of the free‑kick and the red card on the match’s outcome.

Bellamy, aware of the challenge, described Norway as one of the world’s best teams, riding the crest of a wave after a World Cup quarter‑final run. After the final whistle, locals directed a chant at Haaland: “You’re just a shit Kieffer Moore.”