Norway is one of the favorites at the European Championship, while Northern Ireland is one of the underdogs. And that’s exactly what you could see in the direct duel.
Norway clearly won the second game of the Women’s Football Championship 4-1 against Northern Ireland. The Scandinavians impressed with a versatile attacking game and controlled the game for the full 90 minutes. For outsiders Northern Ireland, the game was a success despite the defeat. Julie Nelson’s one goal was the country’s first EURO goal.
That’s how the game went
In front of 9,146 spectators at St. Mary’s Stadium, Norway quickly turned up the heat after a cheeky start from Northern Ireland. First Julie Blakstad (10th) scored from around 14 meters before Frida Maanum stole the ball from her opponent Chloe McCarron. Hegerberg found her pass and immediately put it back to Maanum (13′).
Before the break, former Wolfsburg player Caroline Hansen (31′) increased the penalty with a penalty after an unnecessary handball from Nadene Caldwell. In the second half Julie Nelson (49th) shortened with Northern Ireland’s acclaimed first European Championship goal, but Norway’s Guro Reit (54th) almost immediately restored the old distance with a direct free kick from around 20 meters.
The European champions from 1987 and 1993 want to make amends in England for their performance at the 2017 European Championship. At that time, the Norwegians failed miserably with three defeats and 0:4 goals in the group stage. Hegerberg had withdrawn from the national team for almost five years because of a dispute with the NFF association about the unfair treatment of women’s football. In addition, the 26-year-old was plagued at times by a serious knee injury.
In the second group game next Monday (9:00 p.m.) in Brighton, the Norwegians will face hosts England, who defeated Austria 1-0 on Wednesday. Three hours earlier, Northern Ireland meets the Alpenkickerinnen in Southampton.