– Absolutely incredible to miss the ball – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
With ten minutes left on the clock, Ingrid Syrstad Engen played the ball into the back room, but England’s goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck, came rushing out of the goal.
The last chance completely missed the ball in the clearance. Frida Maanum thus got the easiest job, and put the ball into the open net. 1-1!
– We get this as a gift package. It is absolutely incredible that the goalkeeper manages to miss the ball, exclaimed NRK’s expert Carl-Erik Torp
– After all, our own goal is a fantastic performance station. With speed in their legs and by pushing them, they also make mistakes. It’s good to have with you, says Hege Riise to NRK.
Close to dream opening
The last time Norway met England it was a nightmare match of the rare kind. The British won 8-0, and the Norwegian soccer women suffered the biggest loss in history.
Since then, Norway has gotten rid of the then national team coach, Martin Sjögren and replaced him with Hege Riise.
Tuesday’s affair was Norway’s big chance for revenge, and after 20 minutes they were close to getting it.
Emilie Haavi grabbed the ball from an inattentive Le Tissier out on the left. In front of the goal Reiten was ready, but with his right foot the captain put the ball to the left of the goal.
Just minutes later, Rachel Daly was left unmarked. Daly easily headed in 1-0 on the Briton’s first big chance.
– We miss our timing a bit. We knew that to go high we had to hit it. Then we don’t hit on it, and get a post. There are enough people there, but we can’t pick up that header, says the national team manager about the late goal.
Reacted to a red card
Sarina Wiegman’s women continued to create constant dangers on Norway’s left side, but Norway kept away.
– I’m very pleased. I think we had counterattacks in the first half that smelled a bit burnt. We are missing the goal, but we are resisting very well. I think the formation of having a back five works very well. They create very little apart from the goal in the first. So good control, Riise summarizes the first half.
England clearly came out on top after the break, but Norway got off to a dream start to the second half. England gave a free opportunity to Sophie Román Haug, but the striker was unable to take sufficient care of it.
In the 70th minute, Anja Sønstevold received her second yellow card of the evening.
She tore down Nikita Parris on the outside, and had to leave the court.
– This is external. She gets ripped off easily. She notices that she is behind. She simply forgets that she already has a yellow, says NRK’s football expert Carl-Erik Torp.
Riise sees the red card as good learning.
– As long as we get a good result, we take it as extreme learning. But, we get pressured after the red card, she says.
With ten minutes to go, England’s goalkeeper made a big mistake. It is exploited as mentioned Maanum, who put the ball in an open net. Thus it ended in a draw for Norway in the private international match.
– A good end to this year’s gatherings. I think it’s a wholehearted fight. We work for full minutes, never any sewing, and we work for each other, says Riise.
All in all, the national team manager is satisfied with the gathering in Spain.
– Meeting these teams is a reference we long to get. It builds confidence. The players show that everyone wants to sign up, and we show a strong morale in all the matches, she concludes.