Weir saves Scots blushes in La Manga

CAROLINE WEIR’S first goal since the Euros gave the scoreline a respectable sheen despite two early Norwegian goals threatening to make it an uncomfortable night for Scotland’s second-string side in La Manga.

“It took us a bit of time to adjust,” head coach Shelley Kerr admitted. “Once we sorted that out tactically we did better, especially towards the end of the first half and I thought we were really good in the second half – albeit we still conceded.

“You always get a lot of questions answered when you experiment so it was good from that perspective.”

Having promised to give game time to all 23 players in La Manga, and with a further six not having made the trip, Kerr made seven changes from the side which started the previous game against the United States.

The Norwegians were also understrength but took a firm grip on the game with two goals in three minutes early in the half. The first came from deep in their own half and Wolfsburg’s Caroline Graham Hansen ended a slick move down the left by scoring from close range.

The second goal followed when LisaMarie Utland converted Guro Reiten’s pass from the right. Reiten then just failed to get the touch needed to make it three as the Scotland defence struggled.

Leanne Crichton was brought down in the box by Ina Gausdal, who was booked, and Caroline Weir converted the penalty via the inside of a post in 53 minutes.

Scotland’s hopes of a recovery ended when Graham-Hansen finished clinically after being sent through on Shannon Lynn.