France edges Norway
Host nation wins, 2-1, after allowing own goal, netting late penalty kick.
NICE, France — Eugenie Le Sommer scored the winning goal from the penalty spot to lift host nation France to a 2-1 win against Norway at the Women’s World Cup Wednesday.
Then she had a special embrace for one of her teammates. France defender Wendie Renard almost cost France the game when she turned the ball into her own net to even the match at 1-1.
Le Sommer came to the rescue and moved France to 2-0 in this tournament when she scored the winner in the 72nd minute. A relieved Renard was one of the first players to celebrate with Le Sommer.
“I knew it was hard for her,” Le Sommer said. “In the first match she scored two goals. What’s most important is the group. I’m happy also for her that her mistake was rectified.”
Neither goalkeeper was really tested in an entertaining first half, but France took the lead immediately after the break when Valerie Gauvin tapped in Amel Majri’s cross. Gauvin had been benched at the start of France’s opening 40 win against South Korea, reportedly because she was late to training.
Other matches
Nigeria 2, South Korea 0: Asisat Oshoala became the second Nigerian player to score in two different Women’s World Cup tournaments with a late goal in a 2-0 victory against South Korea in Group A at Stade des Alpes.
Germany 1, Spain 0: Germany held on for the victory against Spain in a match in which the squad was clearly tense in pursuit of a third world title. The Germans relied on Sara Dabritz’s goal in the 42nd minute in the Group B win.