Wales 3
Fletcher 15 Koumas 62,89
Norway 0
Wales 3 Norway 0 February 06 2008
John Toshack's youthful Wales side recorded a confident victory over Norway in Wednesday's friendly international at Wrexham.
Victory over a side who failed to qualify for Euro 2008 by just one point three months ago will give Toshack all the encouragement he needs as next season's World Cup qualifiers approach.
Admittedly Wales took the lead with a goal from 27-year-old Carl Fletcher - and the Crystal Palace man ended as captain when Simon Davies was substituted.
But Wales' side became younger as the substitutes were introduced - and an outstanding second-half display by Jason Koumas, who scored the second and third on his hometown ground, just underlined Wales superiority.
Wales have now lost just two of their last 11 games, and their young players are growing in confidence and maturity in front of Toshack's eyes.
The manager opted for the rarity of a back four instead of his usual five-man defence. Youngsters Craig Morgan and Lewin Nyatanga were paired in defence, while Wales played a five-strong midfield with Wolves man Freddy Eastwood as the lone striker.
Norway had six Barclays Premier League players on show, including Liverpool's John Arne Riise and Aston Villa front man John Carew. Fulham's two transfer window signings Erik Nevland and Brede Hangeland also started the match.
Twice in the opening six minutes Norway squandered clear opportunities. Firstly when 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.
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.
The condition of the sodden pitch deteriorated alarmingly and much of the game became a slog through mud.
But Joe Ledley on the left caused plenty of problems with powerful, skilful running, while Koumas began to impose himself.
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 Hennessey, while David 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 Almenning 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.
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 sidefoot home his second from Edwards' pass.