EURO 2020 Qualifier
Result: Spain 2-1 Norway
Date: 23 March 2019
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla
Spain got their European Championship qualifying campaign off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Norway at Mestalla on Saturday. Five minutes in, they almost took the lead. Marco Asensio did well to get to the byline on the left flank and floated in the delivery to Alvaro Morata, who could only direct his header straight at Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein. In the 15th minute, Spain had their lead. Jordi Alba played a one-two with Asension, before getting to the byline and clipping the ball in to the box for Rodrigo to volley in to the back of the net. Luis Enrique's side were good value for their early lead. Norway very nearly equalised on the half-hour mark. Markus Henriksen was given far too much space on the right-hand side and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Tariq Elyounoussi who somehow missed an open goal. Soon after, Luis Enrique's men almost doubled their lead. Navas' free-kick was met by the head of Morata, but Jarstein pulled off a world-class save to deny the Atletico Madrid frontman. Six minutes after the interval, Rodrigo slipped a precise ball through for Morata but Jarstein did well to come off his line and close down the angle. On the hour mark, La Roja captain Sergio Ramos was guilty of missing a sitter. Asensio put the ball on a plate for his captain at the far post, but Ramos chose to volley when he probably should have used his head as the ball went over the bar. Spain would be punished for their wasteful finishing in the 65th minute when Inigo Martinez manhandled Bjorn Johnsen in the area with the referee pointing to the spot. Josh King converted the penalty to make it 1-1. Five minutes later, La Roja won a penalty of their own. Håvard Nordtveit's underhit back-pass meant Jarstein had to rush off his line. However, Morata got to the ball just before the goalkeeper, who tripped the striker just inside the box. Ramos made no mistake with the spot-kick to restore his side's lead with 20 minutes to go. Substitute on debut Jaime Mata then played a delightful first-time through-ball for Asensio who tried to lob the keeper but could only put the ball over the crossbar in the dying stages as the encounter ended 2-1.
