Erling Haaland scored two goals and made another as Norway defeated neighbours Sweden 3-2 in their Nations League Group B4 clash at the Ullevaal Stadium on Sunday, taking his total to 20 international goals and four in two games against the Swedes.
The 21-year-old stooped to head home Fredrik Bjorkan’s chipped pass to open the scoring in the 10th minute, and he added his second from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half after keeper Robin Olsen fouled Alexander Sorloth.
Emil Forsberg reduced the deficit shortly after the hour mark with a precise shot into the top corner, but Haaland snuffed out any hope of a comeback for the visitors as he crossed for Sorloth to score in the 77th minute.
Viktor Gyokeres scored for the Swedes in stoppage time to make it 3-2.
Depay misses penalty
Davy Klaassen and Denzel Dumfries scored second-half goals as Netherlands rallied from two down to secure a 2-2 draw against Poland in an entertaining Nations League A clash on Saturday. Home captain Memphis Depay missed a late penalty that would have secured all three points for his side as he struck a post, but the result sees the Dutch top Group Four with seven points from their three games, three ahead of Belgium and Poland.
The Poles, seeking a first ever victory against their hosts in the Netherlands, led 2-0 just after half-time as English-born Matty Cash and Piotr Zielinski scored, much to the delight of their sizeable contingent of travelling fans in the stadium.
Fourth draw
Germany came from a goal down and survived late pressure to rescue a 1-1 draw against hosts Hungary in their A Group 3 match for their fourth consecutive draw. The Germans, undefeated under coach Hansi Flick with eight wins and four draws, needed a ninth minute equaliser through Jonas Hofmann to earn a point.
Flick’s team is in third place in the standings with three points. Hungary have four and Italy are top on five. They have now drawn their three Nations League matches, including against Italy and England earlier this month, and were also held 1-1 by the Dutch in a friendly international in March.
Leave granted
Kevin De Bruyne is one of three Belgium players given permission to go off early on holiday after their 1-1 draw with Wales, coach Roberto Martinez said.
De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier have all been allowed to skip the last of this month’s four Nations League A Group Four matches, which is away against Poland in Warsaw on Tuesday.
“De Bruyne has given enough, so has Carrasco,” Martinez said.
“Meunier played two games in quick succession after not playing for three months. We can’t force anyone.”
However, De Bruyne, who had been critical about having to play in the Nations League this month after a long season with Manchester City, said he would have been happy to continue. “I have played three matches for almost 90 minutes. Physically I am okay and I would have liked to play the last game against Poland, but it is the decision of the coach,” he told reporters.