Norway team manager Ståle Solbakken says his side misfired in the first half of their 1-1 draw with New Zealand.
Speaking after the friendly international at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium, Solbakken said: “In the first half, I think we were rusty.
“We didn’t have the right spacing when we had the ball, and we had a slightly below par day with the ball compared to what we’ve had in a long, long time.”
New Zealand took a 1-0 half-time lead through a first full international goal by Finn Surman, and the draw ended Norway’s nine-match winning streak.
Main photo: Ståle Solbakken … ‘We were rusty.’
Solbakken said the introduction of substitutes Antonio Nusa and Sander Berge made a difference.
“We are much better in the second half, of course, a little because Nusa comes in, but also because we get the right side going a little and we get some rotation in the midfield.
“We are braver with the ball, we challenge their next pressing line better and create more power situations.”
Antonio Nusa (left) … scored the equaliser for Norway.
Nusa’s 63rd-minute equaliser was a sweet strike, giving All Whites’ goalkeeper Alex Paulsen no chance of saving.
“It was good; it was a great hit. It was a good pass from Schjelderup and I hit it very well,” Nusa said after the final whistle.
“Respect to New Zealand, they are a good team that gave us good resistance.
“They were better in the first half, and then we picked ourselves up in the second half. We created a lot of chances and it could have gone either way, but it was a well-executed second half I would say.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley said there was much to be pleased about by his side’s performance.
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READ MORE: All Whites earn 1-1 draw against Norway in end-to-end match in Oslo >>>>
Result
Game played on Wednesday October 15, 2025 (NZT)
Norway 1 (Antonio Nusa 63′)
New Zealand 1 (Finn Surman 45+1′)
This story was first published on October 15, 2025.