Norway ruin big night for Davis with five goals
STEVEN DAVIS equalled Pat Jennings’ 34-yearold record of 119 caps for Northern Ireland in Belfast last night but while the evening will be a memorable one for the midfielder on a personal note, it was a game to forget for Ian Baraclough’s men as Norway ran out comfortable 5-1 winners.
The Northern Irishmen salvaged a draw in their opening Nations League fixture against Romania on Friday night after falling behind and having former Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis sent off in the first half, with Gavin Whyte’s late equaliser ensuring a share of the spoils.
Magennis’ dismissal in the previous game ensured his side were up against it from a relatively early stage; against Norway, another moment of adversity arrived within 90 seconds. Former Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen floated a delicate ball in towards the back post, where current Parkhead winger Mohamed Elyounoussi was waiting to cushion the ball with his first touch and poke it past Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the hosts’ goal with his second.
It would have been understandable if Northern Ireland were rattled by that early goal but instead they replied with one of their own minutes later. Conor Washington, who was on the books at Tynecastle last season, chased onto a loose ball and forced Rune Almenning Jarstein into a stop but the rebound fell to the feet of Paddy McNair, who gleefully prodded the ball into an unguarded net to level the scores.
The visitors stormed up the pitch immediately, eventually resulting in