Bergan clinches Norway’s second win over Ireland U19s
SOCCER: Centre-half Vergard Bergan was the hero for the Norway U19s at the UCD Bowl yesterday, as his 84th minute goal gave the visitors a 2-1 victory, their second over the Republic Of Ireland in three days.
The Norwegians opened the scoring 18 minutes in, when towering front man Alexander Sorloth headed past stranded debutant Aaron Myles after Bard Finne’s thundering long-range strike had crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Persistence eventually paid off for the Irish after 71 minutes, as substitute Sam Byrne capitalised on an error by Norwegian netminder Ole Hermann Opheim to finish calmly from a tight angle.
In a frantic final-quarter, Norway were twice denied by the woodwork, but a thundering header by Bergan six minutes from time – following a Zymer Bytyqi corner – proved to be the difference in the end.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Myles; Long, McFadden, McConnell, Coyne; O’Halloran, Browne, Dimaio (Baba 60), Wixted (Finnegan 77); J Byrne; Wilkinson (S Byrne 42).
Referee: R Harvey (Ireland).
Daire Walsh