The Republic of Ireland Under-21s were the victims of late drama in the Euro 2025 qualifier in Cork as Norway snatched a 1-1 draw with a controversial last-gasp equaliser.
Sean Roughan’s 75th-minute goal seemed to have earned the Irish a victory which would have guaranteed them at least a play-off as they chase the country’s first ever qualification for a European Under-21 finals.
However, Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup levelled in the final seconds of injury-time after his team-mate Sindre Walle Egeli clearly pulled the jersey of Irish defender Anselmo García MacNulty in the build-up to the goal.
A home victory would have ended Norway’s qualification hopes going into Tuesday’s final round of fixtures when Jim Crawford’s side face Group A leaders Italy in Trieste.
However instead, Norway remain very much in qualification contention as they prepare for a home contest with out-of-contention Turkey.
Italy lead the Irish by three points with Norway two behind Crawford’s side.
Lincoln City’s Roughan fired Ireland ahead from close range 15 minutes from time after being set up by Johnny Kenny.
Earlier, Kenny had gone closest to breaking the deadlock as he tested Norway keeper Sander Tangvik in the first half and then fired over from close range in the second half after Tangvik was unable to hold a fierce Roughan shot.
Schjelderup was dangerous throughout and had a shot blocked by home defender Emmanueal Adegboyega before having a 67th-minute penalty claim turned down as James Abankwah was given the benefit of the doubt for his challenge.
After Roughan’s goal, the Benfica striker seemed set to finish on the losing side but he swept in Norway’s equaliser in the final minute of injury-time after Irish keeper Tiernan Brooks was unable to hold Thelo Aasgaard’s shot which allowed Schjelderup to hammer home from close range.
However, it was obvious that Egeli had pulled García MacNulty’s jersey in the build-up which should have resulted in the goal being disallowed.