Norway 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland | 2019 - UEFA Under-19 Championship | 2027493

UEFA European Under-19 Championship Final Tournament - Group Stage | FFA Academy Stadium, Yerevan

15 July 2019 - 18:45

Norway 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland

Botheim(8) full-time Hodge(81)

Report
Preview
Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
Statistics
Gallery

U19 EURO: Hodge strike seals draw with Norway

A late goal from debutant Joe Hodge ensured that the Republic of Ireland picked up a point in their opening Group B game of the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championships against Norway.

16th Jul 2019

The heat in Yerevan proved to be a major factor for both teams with figures soaring to 34 degrees before kick-off. While there were two cooling breaks, it was still a struggle for the players.

Yet, it was Norway who started on a more lively note and took the lead inside eight minutes when Erik Botheim finished from close range after Ireland failed to deal with a cross into the penalty area.

It took a little while for Tom Mohan's side to get going, but once they did the football that they played was swift and clever. They used the width of the pitch well, connected passes, and made threatening runs forward.

Twice, in the first half, Ali Reghba broke forward on the right side and deserved to either score or set up a goal. Both times he feel just short, as did Jonathan Afolabi when trying to pick out a teammate with a cross.

In the second period, Ireland were the more aggressive and productive of the two teams. Afolabi proved to be a real handful for the Norway defence and he almost produced a wonder goal with a left-footed strike from distance.

Hodge and captain Lee O'Connor worked hard in midfield to stifle Norway, but they also tried to push things forward as much as possible. Their reward came on 81 minutes when Hodge fed a ball out to Reghba, who beat his man and crossed into the penalty area only for it to be cleared out to the waiting Hodge, who expertly fired in a low shot.

It was a superb finish from the 16-year-old and ensured that Ireland earned a crucial point - even if Norway rattled the Irish woodwork as the clock ticked into injury-time.

Norway: K Klaesson; E Sandberg, C Rosler, J Fredriksen; H Stenevik (M Pedersen 90), J Hove, M Solbakkken (M Ugland 79), E Tagseth; J Kitolano; J Larsen, E Botheim (NJ Holm 65).

Republic of Ireland: B Maher; A Lyons, M McGuinness, O McEntee, J James (M Everitt 61); L O'Connor, J Hodge; A Reghba, B Kavanagh, K Ledwidge (Andrew Omobamidele 90); J Afolabi.

Referee: N Dabanovic (Montenegro)

Tactical Lineups

Norway

Substitutes

12 Mads Christiansen (G)
2 Marcus Pedersen
3 Sebastian Jarl
8 Mikael Ugland
11 Noah Jean Holm
13 Philip Slørdahl
14 Elias Hagen
16 Jakob Maslø Dunsby
18 Mikael Tørset Johnsen

Coach

Geir Frigård

Republic of Ireland

Substitutes

Coach

Tom Mohan

Officials

Referee Nikola Dabanović
Assistant Referees Dawid Golis
UEFA Delegate Bakar Jordania
Assistant Referee Two Stephane De Almeida
Fourth Official Filip Glova
Referee Observer Jaap Uilenberg

Minute by Minute Commentary

1" The match is under way.
3" Markus Solbakken (Norway) has a shot blocked.
3" Edvard Tagseth (Norway) takes the corner.
3" Jonas Tillung Fredriksen (Norway) misses the target.
6" Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
8" Erik Botheim (Norway) scores!
8" Edvard Tagseth (Norway) assists.
10" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Colin Rösler (Norway).
17" Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Erik Botheim (Norway).
18" Jørgen Larsen (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland).
20" Colin Rösler (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland).
21" Brandon Kavanagh (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
21" Brandon Kavanagh (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
23" Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
23" Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
30" Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
33" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
33" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
37" Markus Solbakken (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
40" Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
40" Johan Hove (Norway) takes the free-kick.
41" Johan Hove (Norway) misses the target.
45" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
45+3" Edvard Tagseth (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland).
The referee blows for half-time.
46" The second half begins.
46" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
48" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Erik Sandberg (Norway).
49" Halldor Stenevik (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
51" Jack James (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jørgen Larsen (Norway).
52" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
52" Kristoffer Klaesson (Norway) blocks a shot.
53" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
54" Jonathan Afolabi (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
54" Halldor Stenevik (Norway) is cautioned by the referee.
61" Matt Everitt (in) - Jack James (out) (@@teamID)
62" Edvard Tagseth (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland).
65" Noah Jean Holm (in) - Erik Botheim (out) (@@teamID)
66" Halldor Stenevik (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Matt Everitt (Republic of Ireland).
66" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
71" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Noah Jean Holm (Norway).
71" Halldor Stenevik (Norway) is flagged for offside.
74" Johan Hove (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
75" Mark McGuinness (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Johan Hove (Norway).
77" Mark McGuinness (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Noah Jean Holm (Norway).
78" Johan Hove (Norway) takes the free-kick.
79" Mikael Ugland (in) - Markus Solbakken (out) (@@teamID)
81" Joe Hodge (Republic of Ireland) scores!
81" Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland) assists.
84" Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Edvard Tagseth (Norway).
84" Mikael Ugland (Norway) misses the target.
87" Noah Jean Holm (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Oisin McEntee (Republic of Ireland).
87" Noah Jean Holm (Norway) is cautioned by the referee.
89" Mikael Ugland (Norway) has an effort on goal.
89" Brian Maher (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
90" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Halldor Stenevik (Norway).
90" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
90" Marcus Pedersen (in) - Halldor Stenevik (out) (@@teamID)
90" Andrew Omobamidele (in) - Kameron Ledwidge (out) (@@teamID)
90+2" Mikael Ugland (Norway) takes the free-kick.
90+2" Mikael Ugland (Norway) is penalised for a foul on Ali Reghba (Republic of Ireland).
90+7" Edvard Tagseth (Norway) takes the corner.
90+7" Noah Jean Holm (Norway) is flagged for offside.
The final whistle is blown.