Wales saw its hopes of retaining top-tier Nations League status suffer a significant setback following a defeat in Oslo.
Craig Bellamy’s side struggled to convert early opportunities during a scoreless first half against Norway, according to Yahoo Sports.
The hosts broke the deadlock after an hour when Antonio Nusa scored his first goal of the match from the edge of the penalty area.
Norway extended its lead nine minutes later as substitute Andreas Schjelderup capitalized on a combined effort from Nusa and Erling Haaland.
Although David Brooks provided a late response for the visitors with a delicate chipped finish, the momentum remained with the home side.
Haaland secured the final result by converting a penalty after a foul by Connor Roberts on Schjelderup, the outlet reported.
This result allows Norway to leapfrog Wales into third place in Group A4.
Wales is now mathematically confirmed to finish at the bottom of the group regardless of the outcome in their final match against Portugal.
Because of an inferior head-to-head record against both Norway and Denmark, the team cannot escape the bottom position.
Consequently, the squad is expected to face a relegation play-off against a League B opponent in March.
Prior to the match, Bellamy had stated his intention to go “all out” for a victory despite the opponent’s strength, as noted by Yahoo Sports.
While Wales displayed defensive discipline during the first half, the team could not maintain that intensity against the individual quality of the Norwegian attack.
The defeat also carries long-term consequences for the national program.
Wales will no longer be considered among the top seeds for the upcoming Euro 2028 qualifying campaign.
For Norway, the win served as a form of revenge for their previous defeat in Cardiff last month.
Despite the loss, the performance provided a second chance for the Welsh team to potentially remain in the top division through the upcoming playoff structure.