Norway’s probabilities of qualifying for the World Cup are in jeopardy after they have been held goalless by Switzerland in Group A.
Ada Hegerberg, the Norwegian star, had to get replaced by Sophie Haug by way of damage moments earlier than kick-off, dealing one other blow to a workforce that had been shocked by event co-hosts New Zealand of their opening sport.
With one sport remaining, Swiss goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann made a collection of excellent saves to maintain the rating degree and guarantee her workforce retained prime spot within the group.
The match was initially dominated by Switzerland, however Norway regularly gained floor.
Their greatest likelihood got here within the twenty second minute when Thalmann deflected Haug’s header.
Emilio Haavi’s cross gave Roma one other likelihood to attain, however he headed huge.
After some good work, Coumba Sow fed the ball to Ana Marija Crnogorcevic, who shot huge earlier than Nadine Riesen’s cross was deflected huge by Aurora Mikalsen.
5 minutes after the half-time break, Maren Mjelda’s header was saved as Norway took management of the sport.
Within the second assault, a falling Haug was denied, who broke the ball first time, forcing Thalmann to make a incredible cease to her left.
The goalkeeper as soon as once more made a stable save from Caroline Graham Hansen’s harmful low cross.
Though Norway created the probabilities, Switzerland had a couple of probabilities of their very own when Ramona Bachmann headed house after an amazing run down the center of the pitch earlier than Mikalsen stored out a courageous strike from Riesen.
Thalmann produced two glorious back-to-back saves, first denying Graham Hansen with a low dive earlier than blocking Frida Maanum’s dive on the close to publish.
Switzerland pushed into damage time as Crnogorcevic’s threatening cross was saved, and Graham-Hansen’s lengthy free-kick was then simply saved within the dying seconds.
The Swiss will progress to the final 16 with a degree from their final group match towards New Zealand, whereas Norway might want to beat the Philippines and hope outcomes elsewhere are there to keep away from an early exit.
AFP