Norway’s Dominance Dented as Surman, Nusa Trade Blows in Oslo Draw
In a week when Norway’s national team seemed to be gathering momentum and goal-scoring swagger, Ullevaal Stadion witnessed a sharp reminder of football’s caprice as New Zealand held the hosts to a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s international friendly—a result shaped as much by New Zealand’s resilience as it was by Norway’s unfinished business in front of goal.
No fixture in recent months, competitive or otherwise, had suggested that Norway would find difficulty breaking down a side that arrived in Oslo battered by three straight defeats and outscored by six goals in their last trio of outings. The hosts, buoyed by a 5-0 dismantling of Israel just four days prior and riding the crest of an 11-1 evisceration of Moldova in September, were expected to flex their attacking muscle against the All Whites, whose own search for form—following losses to Australia (twice) and Poland—seemed destined to yield little on northern soil.
Instead, the script flipped. As halftime approached with Norway probing but never quite piercing, it was New Zealand who delivered a stunning twist. Deep into first-half stoppage time, the visitors forged the breakthrough. A well-worked move saw Michael Boxall surge forward before threading a precise ball to Finn Surman, who kept his composure to finish past an outstretched Norwegian keeper. Against the run of play, New Zealand snatched a lead that sent the small contingent of traveling supporters into rapture and left Ullevaal momentarily hushed.
For Norway, the goal was as shocking as it was galvanizing. The home side emerged from the tunnel with renewed urgency, pinning New Zealand deep and probing for answers. The All Whites, organized and uncompromising, repelled wave after wave, relying on disciplined midfield play and the occasional counter to relieve pressure. Yet, the pressure told.
Just past the hour mark, a flash of individual brilliance changed everything. Antonio Nusa, whose rise through Norwegian football has been closely watched, seized a half-chance in the 63rd minute—pouncing on a loose clearance before rifling a low strike that tucked just inside the post, restoring parity and reigniting belief among the Oslo faithful.
With the score level, both managers shuffled their decks, searching for a decisive edge. Norway, brimming with confidence from their recent scoring outbursts, pressed forward, while New Zealand’s rearguard held—sometimes desperately, sometimes artfully, but always resolutely. The match swayed, chances appeared, but neither side could find the composure or the luck to tilt fate further in their favor.
Absent from the scoresheet was Norway’s talismanic Erling Haaland, who had netted six times in the previous two outings, underscoring the sense that this was a night for others to shoulder responsibility. Nusa’s contribution was punctuated by dynamic runs and swift interchanges, but the finishing touch eluded both his teammates and their guests as the minutes ticked down.
The encounter marked a rare moment of parity between these two nations, whose paths have rarely crossed on the international stage and whose footballing trajectories have seemed, at times, worlds apart. For Norway, the disappointment was as much about missed opportunities as it was about a stubborn opponent. For New Zealand, the draw is a tonic—a result that offers hope after a bruising run of defeats and provides tangible proof of their continued ability to compete with European opposition.
Contextually, the draw does little to alter either side’s competitive standings, with Norway’s eyes still firmly set on World Cup qualification following back-to-back group victories that left them well-positioned for a place at the 2026 finals. For New Zealand, whose major competitive focus lies in the Oceania region where they remain perennial favorites, the match is less about points and more about process: finding confidence, forging combinations, and refusing to be overawed outside their own confederation.
The immediate future for Norway holds both promise and pressure. With form on their side but lessons in humility from Tuesday’s draw, they prepare to return to qualification action where the stakes—and the quality of opposition—will only intensify. For New Zealand, the Ullevaal result injects belief into a squad desperate for traction, suggesting that with courage and tactical discipline, they can trouble more heralded opposition.
As the autumn chill descended on Oslo, both teams departed the pitch tempered by reality and buoyed by potential. In the world of friendlies, victories may be fleeting and defeats softened by context, but on this October evening, a hard-won point belonged every bit as much to New Zealand’s spirit as it did to Norway’s determination to answer adversity with ambition.