Norway v Nigeria

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Norway v Nigeria

Reiten-Inspired Norway Too Strong For Nigeria

by Jeremy Ruane

Norway proved too strong for Nigeria in their opening FIFA Women's World Cup Finals encounter at Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims, prevailing 3-0 in front of 11,058 fans on June 8.

It was the Africans who enjoyed the brighter start, however, Ingrid Hjelmseth grabbing an Osinachi Ohale header in the second minute following the first of a succession of Ngozi Ebere corners which gave the Norwegian defenders plenty to think about in the early stages of the contest.

Norway responded via a lightning-fast eighth minute raid which culminated in Tochukwu Oluehi having to dash off her line to clear off the toes of the fast-approaching figure of Lisa-Marie Utland, who was a prominent figure throughout proceedings in the Norwegian attack.

So, too, Guro Reiten, the enchanting midfield maestro whose searching sixteenth minute free-kick had the Nigerian defence in all sorts of bother, ultimately forcing the concession of a corner from which Norway opened the scoring.

Reiten played it short to Caroline Graham Hansen, who took on and evaded a challenge before steering the ball into the stride of Reiten. Without hesitating, she unleashed a missile which struck the arm of Onome Ebi and flew into the net past the wrong-footed Oluehi, to the undisguised delight of the jubilant Norwegians, Reiten in particular.

Nigeria never really recovered from this setback, with their at times unorthodox defensive efforts inviting further Norwegian pressure, such as that from Reiten in the 28th minute which forced Oluehi to make a mad dash out of her goal to clear off the flank player's toes.

The game was up for Nigeria in a three-minute spell roughly ten minutes before half-time. Ebi's headed clearance landed straight at Reiten's feet in the 34th minute, and her deft touch and pass found Utland in space on the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Without hesitation, she unleashed a thunderbolt which screamed through Oluehi's hands and into the net behind her - 2-0, with Norway's third goal materialising three minutes later, an own goal by the unfortunate Ohale as she attempted to divert an Isabell Herlovsen cross to safety, following a poor Oluehi goal kick.

That goal prompted the Nigerians into action as an attacking force again, with the right-wing raids of Francisca Ordega a feature of this aspect of their play. She it was who forced Hjelmseth into a hasty clearance five minutes before half-time, following

an under-hit Kristine Minde back-pass.

Ohale's long throw-in which resulted caused the Norwegian defence all sorts of problems, but they managed to repel numerous Nigerian attempts to turn the ball home before closing out the half by nearly netting a fourth goal, captain Maren Mjelde's free-kick from just outside the penalty area narrowly clearing the crossbar.

The second spell offered few scoring opportunities, and was overshadowed somewhat by the sight of Nigerian defender Faith Michael being stretchered off after colliding with Oluehi in the 49th minute, as both did their utmost to prevent Graham's cross from reaching the lurking figure of Utland.

Norway pressed again soon afterwards, Oluehi blocking a Herlovsen header at her near post, before the striker was thwarted by Ohale's despairing lunge while in the act of shooting seconds later.

Nigeria's best chance of the half materialised twenty minutes from time, with Asisat Oshoala scampering down the right and rounding the approaching figure of Hjelmseth as she entered the right-hand side of the penalty area, only to screw her attempt to turn the ball home from an acute angle into an untended net wide of the near post under pressure from retreating defenders.

A fourth goal would have left Norway absolutely level with France in their group, and they were nearly gifted it by Oluehi six minutes from time, seconds after comfortably dealing with a tame Elise Thorsnes shot.

The goalkeeper made a right meal of dealing with a shot from Graham, fumbling the ball round the post after the midfielder's slaloming run from half-way into the penalty area saw her let fly, despite being surrounded by four defenders.

Graham, Reiten and company will face a fierce test of their credentials when they take on the host nation in their next encounter, while for Nigeria, their clash with Korea Republic is in the "must win" category - anything other than three points from that match will likely mean an early departure from France 2019.

Norway: Hjelmseth; Wold, Thorisdottir, Mjelde, Minde; Graham, Risa (Maanum, 85), Engen, Reiten (Haavi, 90); Herlovsen, Utland (Thorsnes, 80)

Nigeria: Oluehi; Michael (Okeke, 54), Ohale, Ebi, Ebere; Ayinde (Uchendu, 50), Okobi, Chikwelu; Oshoala (Ihezuo, 71), Oparanozie (booked, 13), Ordega (booked, 45)

Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia)

Group Matches