There was also a moment of history in the second half when Martin Odegaard came on for his second cap, making him the youngest footballer to play in the European Championship at 15 years and 300 days.

Odegaard replaced another teenager – Mats Moller Daehli – on 63, to better the previous record held by ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Siggi Jonsson who was 16 years and 251 days when he made his qualifying debut for Iceland in June 1983.

The victory keeps Norway third in Group H and hot on the heels of Croatia and Italy who both have maximum points from three games.

Nielsen, a second-half substitute, had been on the pitch for 13 minutes when he latched on to Martin Linnes’s deflected cross, to volley the ball into the bottom right-hand corner on 72.

Although the hosts had been the better side for much of the contest, chances were few and far between and Bulgaria may well feel aggrieved that they missed out on a point.

Norway had taken the lead in the 13th minute as Tarik  Elyounoussi ran on to Per Ciljan Skjelbred’s punt forward to scramble the ball home at the far post.

However, Bulgaria levelled matters two minutes before the break when Nikolay Bodurov clinically headed home Georgi Iliev’s corner.