Ethan Ampadu starts as Wales beat Norway 2-1 for first League A win

Ethan Ampadu started for Wales as Craig Bellamy’s side beat Norway 2-1 in Cardiff on 1 October. It was their first win in League A of the Nations League. For Leeds United readers, it is a good night for their midfielder.

Wales 2-1 Norway: how the goals came

According to the Football Association of Wales match report, Oscar Bobb put Norway ahead after 11 minutes. He finished a through ball from Martin Ødegaard. Wales came back well and Dan James equalised on 38 minutes. He got on the end of a ball into the area from Sorba Thomas.

Norway then went down to ten men straight after the restart. Torbjørn Heggem was shown a straight red card for fouling James on the edge of the area. Neco Williams scored from the free kick on 48 minutes, and Wales held on for the win.

What Ethan Ampadu did

The FAW report has Ampadu in the starting line-up. It mentions his shot on 34 minutes, which went over the bar. It does not single him out for praise, and neither does this article. What it shows is that Ampadu was part of a Wales side that responded after a 2-0 defeat in Denmark the previous weekend. Ethan Ampadu was one of the players who had to respond.

Bellamy made five changes from that game. Wales had been without a point or a goal in this Nations League campaign before facing Norway. They had Erling Haaland leading the line and a doubtful Martin Ødegaard back in the team.

Why it matters for Leeds

A first League A win gives Wales something to build on. It was a convincing way to answer the Denmark result. Ampadu will return to Leeds with a win rather than a defeat behind him. Ethan Ampadu and his career to date has the background on his path to Leeds and Wales. His Leeds teammate Dan James also scored.

That is the extent of what the report supports. Ampadu’s fitness, minutes and form for Leeds are separate questions, and nothing here says anything about them.

You can read the full FAW match report for the lineups and minute-by-minute events.