Carl Fletcher and Jason Koumas were on target as Wales secured a 3-0 win over Norway.

Fletcher and Koumas net as Toshack's side triumph

Carl Fletcher and Jason Koumas were on target on Wednesday as Wales secured a 3-0 win over Norway in an international friendly. Despite a lively start by Norway it was Wales who struck first when Fletcher won the ball in midfield before playing a fine one-two with Freddy Eastwood and slotting home. John Toshack's side were inches from doubling their advantage in the second half with substitute David Edwards and Koumas both seeing shots strike the post. However, Koumas made sure of the win shortly after the hour mark when he stoked home with a right-footed shot past substitute keeper Rune Jarstein. Wigan's Koumas added his second of the game late on when he collected Edwards' pass and slotted a first time finish past the helpless Jarstein from close range. Twice in the opening six minutes Norway squandered clear opportunities. Firstly when Erik Nevland, six yards out, headed over from a Jarl-Andre Storbaek cross and then when Riise lifted a corner into the box, Pa-Modou Kah similarly wasted his opportunity. Wales had barely troubled Norway, apart from a 25-yard Koumas drive which went over in the 14th minute.

Fast break

But from another fast break through the middle, Wales were ahead a minute later. Eastwood battled his way forward and slipped a fine pass to Fletcher, who raced into the box and guided an angled drive into the bottom corner for his first goal for Wales - four years and 27 caps since his debut. In the 26th minute he came in off the right flank to drill a low shot which Hakon Opdal needed to save well to his right. Sam Ricketts then crossed from the left and it took a lunge from Riise to scoop the ball away from the toes of Davies. Norway had laboured for space and possession, but in the 43rd minute Blackburn's Morton Gamst Pedersen cut in from the left to clip a drive against the outside of Wayne Hennessey's post. Wales switched goalkeepers at the break, with Lewis Price taking over from Wayne Hennessey, while Edwards came on for Ledley - the Cardiff man getting his expected rest. Norway made three changes, Carew's departing in favour of Kristofer Haestad, Stromstad was replaced by Christian Grindheim and Norway also changed their goalkeeper - Rune Jarstein taking over from Opdal. Substitute Grindheim had a long-range drive saved and a diving header wide before Wales almost scored again in the 56th minute. Koumas' strong run ended with a pass to Edwards and the Wolves man saw his effort palmed onto a post by Jarstein. Koumas then curled a free-kick inches wide.

Triple switch

On the hour Wales sent on Craig Davies, Neil Eardley and David Cotterill for Simon Davies, Sam Ricketts and Eastwood. Norway responded by sending on former Liverpool player Frode Kippe for Hangeland - but two minutes later they found themselves two goals behind. Chris Gunter combined with Koumas down the left, with the final pass being driven into the bottom corner by Koumas. Price saved at the second attempt from Pedersen's header following Storbaek's cross, before Andrew Crofts replaced Carl Robinson in the 65th minute. Craig Davies then got away down the left to send in a curling effort that Jarstein touched over the bar, before Norway took off Nevland and sent on John Anders Bjorkoy. But Wales were knocking the ball around with increasing confidence and a fine night was capped a minute from time when Koumas had plenty of time to coolly side-foot home his second from Edwards' pass.

Wales	Team Statistics	Norway
3	Goals	0
1	1st Half Goals	0
6	Shots on Target	3
2	Shots off Target	8
0	Blocked Shots	3
3	Corners	6
9	Fouls	13
3	Offsides	4
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
78.2	Passing Success	75.3
19	Tackles	16
78.9	Tackles Success	81.2
58.5	Possession	41.5
50.5	Territorial Advantage	49.5