Norway stand on the verge of qualification to the knockout levels of the European Championship after grinding out a 2-1 victory over a brave Finland. Caroline Graham Hansen's 84th-minute winner in Sion broke Helmarit hearts after Oona Sevenius had cancelled out Eva Nystrom's unlucky early personal objective.
Within the shadow of the cloudy mountains that encompass the Stade Tourbillon, it had been a turbulent night for a Norway facet that continues to confuse and frustrate. It proved removed from a convincing outing for them as soon as once more as they struggled in opposition to hard-working opposition who dominated a lot of the encounter.
Finland have been one of many surprises of the event to date. The bottom-ranked crew in Group A have impressed with their midfield press permitting them to dominate central areas and their capacity to interrupt at tempo backed up by their energetic wing-backs Katariina Kosola and Emma Koivisto.
Marko Saloranta opted to make only one change from their opening day victory over Iceland. Sevenius is amongst a number of promising younger gamers coming via the ranks and the Rosengard ahead got here in for Sanni Franssi.
Norway's Gemma Grainger made only one change from their unconvincing win over hosts Switzerland with Mathilde Harviken changing Maren Mjelde in defence. They began brightly sufficient and with their ahead gamers occupying their extra conventional positions, they discovered early pleasure.
With the primary assault of the sport, the ever-dangerous Graham Hansen ghosted previous Joanna Tynnilä earlier than sending a low ball in. Conscious that Frida Maanum was lurking behind her, Nystrom caught out a leg to ship it unwittingly into the again of her personal web.
Saloranta's facet, nevertheless, are a plucky outfit who had been decided to not let that second dictate the remainder of the match. Their packed midfield, anchored by Eveliina Summanen and impressed by tireless Oona Siren, gave Norway little pleasure. They managed 67% of possession within the first 25 minutes, a sign of their rising confidence and success going ahead. Cecilie Fiskerstrand was the primary of the 2 goalkeepers to be really examined, producing a fingertip cease to disclaim an instinctive half-volley from the Finland captain Linda Sällström.
Norway had probabilities of their very own. Ingrid Engen was the primary to crash a header off the bar earlier than Anna Koivunen tipped a Vilde Bøe Risa nook onto a publish. The Finland keeper was then known as on to make an excellent save to disclaim Ada Hegerberg.
Finland had been worthy of their equaliser, nevertheless, when it did ultimately come. Splitting open the Norwegian defence, Siren fed Sevenius who despatched her shot flying into the online. The celebrations from gamers and coach alike mentioned all of it as Saloranta danced down the touchline in delight.
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A clearly pissed off Grainger rang the adjustments at half-time. It didn't have the specified impact as Finland continued to press ahead and once they mirror on this one, they may rue their missed alternatives.
With Finland's power ranges dipping, Norway noticed the chance to go for the jugular. There have been warning indicators earlier than the winner when Koivunen was known as on to disclaim an acrobatic effort from Guro Reiten and Graham Hansen inexplicably skied a shot from an unmarked place within the field. She was not going to make the identical mistake twice and when she was afforded area as soon as extra, she floated in what appeared like a cross that clipped the far publish and in.
With Finland unable to discover a late reply, Norway could have a eager eye on the later kick off in Group A. Ought to Switzerland fail to beat Iceland, Grainger's facet will progress to the quarter-finals with one sport to spare.
