Norway bring Shiels’ history makers back down to earth
N Ireland Euro 2022 4 1
NORTHERN IRELAND were outclassed on their major tournament debut as Norway romped to a comprehensive victory in Southampton.
First-half finishes from Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum, plus a Caroline Graham Hansen penalty, put the twotime European champions on course for a routine success to dampen an historic occasion for their opponents.
Defender Julie Nelson – Northern Ireland’s mostcapped female player – gave the competition’s lowestranked nation brief hope of an unlikely comeback by heading in a landmark goal just after the interval. But
Guro Reiten’s free-kick sealed a routine success for Martin Sjogren’s side to move them level on three points with hosts England at the top of Group A.
A difficult evening for
Kenny Shiels’ underdogs was compounded by forward Simone Magill – who has just moved from Everton to Aston Villa – leaving the field in tears late on due to injury.
Norway – winners of this competition in 1987 and
1993 – swiftly had Northern Ireland staring down the barrel of another heavy defeat by capitalising on a string of defensive lapses. Manchester City midfielder Blakstad claimed the 10th-minute opener, beating goalkeeper Jackie Burns at her near post with a low, left-footed drive.
Arsenal player Maanum swiftly doubled the advantage, dispossessing Chloe McCarron just outside the Northern Ireland 18-yard box following a poorly executed goal-kick and was then left with a simple finish into an unguarded net after receiving the ball back from Ada Hegerberg.
Northern Ireland once again contributed to their own downfall as the game effectively ended as contest in the 31st minute. VAR intervened after Nadene Caldwell inexplicably handled the ball in her own box following an inswinging corner, allowing Hansen to dispatch the resultant spot-kick beyond the diving Burns.
Shiels brought on veteran captain Marissa Callaghan for her first appearance since suffering a toe injury in May and the alteration helped spark an immediate response. Rachel Furness smashed the ball back across the box after Norway made a mess of clearing a corner and 37-year-old centre-back Nelson claimed a small piece of history by nodding over the line.
Thoughts of an improbable fightback were quickly extinguished as Chelsea winger Reiten restored the three-goal advantage by catching out Burns with a low, 20-yard free-kick.