Erling Haaland experienced a difficult evening as Norway were defeated by Wales in a Nations League A4 match on Thursday in Cardiff, marking the striker’s second consecutive game without a goal for his national side. Norway, ranked 19th globally, lost 2-1 to a Wales team that had struggled in recent fixtures and included five players from the English Championship.

Norway took an early lead through a composed finish by Oscar Bobb after a clever pass from Martin Odegaard. However, Wales responded before halftime, with Dan James equalizing after a defensive error between Fredrik Aursnes and Sander Berge allowed Wales to regain possession. Sorba Thomas played a crucial role in the buildup to both Welsh goals, delivering key crosses into the box.

The match turned sharply in Wales’ favor early in the second half when Norway was reduced to ten men. Torbjorn Heggem received a red card within seconds of the restart for a foul outside Norway’s penalty area. Wales capitalized immediately, with Neco Williams converting a free kick to put the home side ahead. Wales continued to press, with Mark Harris narrowly missing an opportunity to extend the lead.

Haaland, who entered the match with seven goals in his previous five games for Norway, was largely subdued. Despite two notable chances in the second half—one header saved by goalkeeper Danny Ward and another shot sailing over the crossbar—he was unable to find the net. It was only the second time in 18 recent competitive appearances that Haaland failed to score for Norway. He ended the match with the fewest touches among his teammates and left the field visibly frustrated.

The striker’s week has been marked by off-field challenges as well. Ahead of the match, it became public that Haaland is involved in a legal dispute with a Norwegian airline over unauthorized use of his likeness in a marketing campaign. The company removed social media content featuring an edited image of his distinctive hairstyle following the lawsuit. The hearing is scheduled to take place in Oslo next week.

For Wales, the victory marked a significant turnaround under manager Craig Bellamy, who secured only his second win in 22 matches in charge. Before this game, Wales had not beaten a team ranked in the top 50 in the world and had struggled in the current Nations League campaign, having lost seven and drawn one of their previous eight games in League A4. Bellamy acknowledged the difficulties he has faced in recent months and addressed critics in a notably candid post-match press conference, emphasizing the need for mutual support in challenging times.

Odegaard, reflecting on Norway’s defeat, described the result as “a punch in the face” and urged his team to regroup and fight back in upcoming fixtures. Norway now face increased pressure as they aim to recover in the Nations League standings after consecutive losses.