Wales are up-and-running in the Nations League after a morale-boosting 2-1 comeback win over Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium.
They recovered from a sloppy opening to go in front, with the two goals sandwiching a red card for the Norwegians. After losing their opening two matches by an aggregate scoreline of 3-0, this represented a big result for the Dragons.
The start was far from ideal, though.
Barely ten minutes had elapsed when Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard produced a crisp, through-ball that picked out the onrushing Fulham attacker Oscar Bobb and he displayed a fine first touch before cleverly applying a left-footed finish past a helpless Danny Ward.
The hosts were not unsettled by that early concession, however. Craig Bellamy’s men had the better of the chances and just before half-time they summoned an equaliser.
Sorba Thomas found space on the left-hand side of the penalty area and picked out Daniel James a few yards out. The Leeds man then finished tidily to restore parity.
A big turning point arrived just seconds after the restart when the visitors were reduced to ten men. Centre-half Torbjorn Heggem was shown a straight red card for dragging down James after the goalscorer had seemingly beaten him to the ball just outside the Norway area.
Neco Williams then inflicted further misery when he struck a brilliant free-kick that nestled in the bottom-left corner to complete the turnaround.
The margin of victory could have been bigger but for substitutes Josh Sheehan and Mark Harris, who saw efforts denied by Norway’s Orjan Nyland.
Superstar Erling Haaland had a quiet night in Cardiff, by his high standards, and the closest he came all night was a tame header that was easily dealt with by Ward as Wales saw out a much-needed win.
Relieved boss Bellamy said post-match: “We’ve worked hard to get to Nations League A and we know the teams are littered and loaded with good players and I know we’ve got a lot of players out, but we still have to be us. So that was nice and was pleasing.
“The last few days in training, we had an identity meeting, I have to give credit to the players, they’ve been brilliant.
“What do we want to do? Do we want to sit deep and play on counter attacks or do we want to be aggressive and be on the front foot and keep the ball when we have it?
“That’s really it. I think that’s us. We do have to punch above our weight, but let’s give it a right go. That’s always been brought to me as a Welsh person growing up.
“Look at my size, I had to do that as a player and as an individual. That’s how I see us and our country.”
Wales conclude this first portion of Nations League games with a visit from Denmark on Sunday night.
