Wales had not scored in League A, and Neco Williams’ free-kick beat ten-man Norway in Cardiff
Daniel James equalised and then drew a red card for Torbjorn Heggem, and Williams curled the free-kick in as Wales came from behind to win 2-1.
Oct 2, 2026
Wales went into Thursday night bottom of their Nations League group, with no goals in League A and six games without a win. They came out of it level on points with Norway and Denmark, after Neco Williams curled in a free-kick against ten men at Cardiff City Stadium.
Norway, World Cup quarter-finalists in July, scored first and still lost 2-1. The game turned inside the first minute of the second half.
Bobb first, then James
Norway started as the better side. Martin Odegaard, a doubt before the game with an ankle problem, found Oscar Bobb, and Bobb put Norway ahead in the 11th minute.
Wales did not fold. Sorba Thomas had the better of Norway’s right side for long spells, and in the 38th minute he set up Daniel James for the equaliser. That was Wales’ first goal in League A at the third attempt, after a 1-0 defeat in Lisbon and a 2-0 loss in Copenhagen.
The red card and the free-kick
Seconds after the restart, James got in front of Torbjorn Heggem and the Norway centre-back pushed him to the ground. The referee showed a straight red for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Williams took the free-kick and put it into the bottom corner past Orjan Nyland in the 48th minute. Norway had the whole second half to find an equaliser with ten men, and they did not manage it.
“We played well and we looked aggressive,” Craig Bellamy said. “It’s really what we have to be.”
A quiet night for Haaland
Erling Haaland came to Cardiff with 65 goals in 57 games for Norway, and Bellamy had called him “a machine” the day before. He had two real chances. He headed over from close range just before the hour and, with nine minutes left, headed straight at Danny Ward.
That was about it: two shots, one on target, in a game Norway needed him to win.
Where Group 4 stands
Portugal won 4-2 in Copenhagen on the same night and have nine points from three games. Denmark, Norway and Wales are all on three behind them, with Wales fourth on goal difference.
The next round comes quickly. Wales host Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday 4 October, and Norway go to Porto to play Portugal the same evening. Both games kick off at 12:15am IST on Monday.
Bellamy said on Wednesday that a losing run should bring questions. This was the answer he needed. Wales still have to beat Denmark to make it mean much.