Scots fail to repeat opening-day heroics and suffer Norway mauling

NORWAY U19

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Bragstad 21; Josendal 24; Olsen 45; Nygard 4 Scotland could not replicate their opening performance against France and were outplayed by a much stronger Norwegian side in their second Group A match at Firhill last night. Theunder-19europeanchampionship hosts were four down at half-time and it could have been more.

Pauline Hamill made just one change from the side which had pushed France all the way less than 72 hours earlier, but it was Norway, needing to avenge a heavy opening 5-0 defeat from Netherlands, who took control from the outset and didn’t let go. The opening goal eventually arrived after 20 minutes when Jenny Olsen wriggled into a shooting position and, although her shot hit the post, fellow striker Emilie Bragstad was on hand to score from close range.

The second goal, three minutes later, was the pick of the first-half efforts.

Scotland right-back Rachel Brown failed to make a clearance, the ball was played to Anna Josendal and she lashed the ball past Sophie Allison.

Two further goals in the dying minutes of the half, from Olsen and Rikke Nygard, underlined the Norwegians’ dominance, with the ball also hitting the woodwork between the two strikes.

The one-sided nature of the first 45 minutes wasn’t quite so pronounced in the second, even though Norway continued to dominate the possession. Scotland’s best chance of the game came midway through the half when captain Amy Muir’s free kick was met by Brown, but her header was easily saved by Karen Sneve. Substitute Abby Callaghan also came close in time added on.

In the earlier Group A game, at St Mirren Park, France made it two wins out of two when they beat Netherlands 3-1. Spain also got their second win when they beat England 1-0 in Group B, while Germany also made it two wins from two when they beat Belgium.