Portugal beat Norway as Ramos goal and Ødegaard injury dominate

The victory in Oslo, however, was overshadowed by a stoppage-time incident that injured Norway's captain, Martin Ødegaard.

João Félix opened the scoring in the 17th minute, assisted by Pedro Neto, but Erling Haaland equalised for Norway early in the second half. Portugal's response was swift, with Gonçalo Ramos netting the winner just three minutes later, in the 54th minute. This continued a positive run of form for the side, who have now won three of their last five matches. Norway, who had been unbeaten at home since March 2024, saw their resistance broken.

The match's defining moment came deep into added time when Bernardo Silva made a late challenge on Ødegaard long after the ball had gone. The referee showed Silva a yellow card. Ødegaard, who played the full 90 minutes while limping, described the injury as a 'knock on the ankle' and was hopeful of a quick recovery. 'It probably won't feel great tonight,' the Arsenal captain said. He was critical of Silva's action, stating it 'doesn't belong on a football pitch' and was 'a head fog from him'.

For his part, Bernardo Silva simply said 'it's football, my friend' when asked about the tackle. The win strengthens Portugal's position in the group, just two points behind leaders Colombia, and builds momentum ahead of their next away fixture. The team now travels to face Denmark on Saturday in a match that could prove key in the race for top spot.

The sole focus for the Seleção is now on the next challenge, as they aim to extend their positive run and stay in the quest for direct qualification. Norway, meanwhile, sees its home unbeaten run ended and must now contend with the potential absence of its captain for upcoming matches.

This story first appeared at Khel Now