Wales beat Norway 2-1 for first Nations League A win

Wales opened their Nations League A campaign with a 2-1 win over Norway in Cardiff on Thursday, ending a winless run and giving manager Craig Bellamy a first victory in the competition’s top division. Bellamy said he took greater satisfaction from the team’s performance than the result. Wales fell behind to Oscar Bobb’s goal before Daniel James equalised. Norway defender Torbjørn Heggem was sent off early in the second half after bringing down James, and Neco Williams scored from the resulting free kick to put Wales ahead. The reports agree on the score and sequence of goals, though they differ on the precise timing of the dismissal. The win ended a run of six matches without victory in 2026, according to the accounts. It was also Wales’ first win in Nations League League A. The team had reached the top tier after winning its previous group, and began the Norway match seeking its first points in the competition. Bellamy said the performance mattered because it reflected the way Wales aim to play: aggressively, on the front foot and in possession. He credited the players and said the squad had discussed its identity in training.