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U.S. Women shocked by Norway in Olympic opener

6 Aug, 2008

Norway surprised the U.S. with two goals in the first five minutes and held on for a 2-0 victory in the opening game for each team at the 2008 Olympics at Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Norway’s dream start came in the second minute. After Christie Rampone cleared a long throw in, Norway captain Ane Stangeland Horpestad swung in a long cross from the left wing. Lori Chalupny was in place to challenge for the header, but Hope Solo charged off her line and collided with Chalupny as Leni Larsen Kaurin popped the header over the U.S. players and into the empty net.

Two minutes later Norway scored again. Kate Markgraf played a back pass from right in front of the benches into the middle of the field that was intercepted in stride by Melissa Wiik who dribbled into the area and curved a fantastic shot around Solo just inside the far post.

After a few early build ups and corner kicks, the best chance for the U.S. in the first half came in the 26th minute and was created by Heather O’Reilly. With the U.S. pressing, O’Reilly dribbled to the end line and cut back a pass that deflected to Carli Lloyd. Lloyd touched the ball forward to Angela Hucles who hit a curling shot over the crossbar.

In the second half neither team was able to get much going. Norway primarily sat back to counter attack and created their best chance of the half in the 49th minute on a freekick that Marit Christensen flicked just wide of Solo’s right post.

The U.S. continually attack through the second half, but couldn’t solve Norway’s defense with the final pass. In the 61st minute Natasha Kai put one over the bar from a tight angle and in the 78th Carli Lloyd had a pair of chances denied after her first shot came back to her off a defender.

The two best chances for the U.S. came in stoppage time, when Hucles hit a blast from outside of the area that would have dipped into the net if not for a great leaping save from Erika Skarbøe. A minute later, Lloyd’s strike from nearly the same spot went just wide of the post.

Japan, who earlier tied 2-2 vs. New Zealand, is up next for the U.S. on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5 a.m. ET live on USA Network and the Olympic Soccer Channel.

A full match report will be posted shortly...

- U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT -

Match-up: USA vs. Norway
Competition: 2008 Olympics
Venue: Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium; Qinhuangdao, China
Date: August 6, 2008; Kickoff – 7:45 p.m. local / 7:45 a.m. ET
Attendance: 17,673
Weather: Hazy, Humid, 83 degrees

Scoring Summary:    1    2    F
USA                                0   0   0
NOR                               2   0   2


Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts, 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 17-Lori Chalupny (14-Stephanie Cox, 15) (13-Tobin Heath, 78); 9-Heather O’Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (8-Amy Rodriguez); 16-Angela Hucles, 6-Natasha Kai
Subs: 4-Rachel Buehler, 10-Aly Wagner, 12-Lauren Cheney, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

NOR: 1-Erika Skarbøe; 2-Ane Stangeland Horpestad – Capt., 3-Gunhild Følstad, 7-Trine Rønning, 12-Marit Christensen; 4-Ingvild Stensland, 6-Marie Knutsen (5-Siri Nordby, 88’), 13-Lene Storløkken; 10-Melissa Wiik (17-Lene Mykjåland, 69’), 8-Solveig Gulbrandsen, 11-Leni Larsen Kaurin (14-Guro Knutsen, 67’)
Subs:, 9-Isabell Herlovsen, 15-Marita Skammelsrud Lund, 16-Elise Thorsnes, 18-Christine Nilsen
Head Coach: Bjarne Berntsen

Statistical Summary: USA / NOR
Shots:                                  20 / 12
Shots on Goal:                   11 / 6
Saves:                                   6 / 8
Corner Kicks:                       4 / 1
Fouls:                                  12 / 11
Offside:                                  2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
None.

Officials
Referee: Nicole Petignat (SUI)
Asst. Referee: Cristini Cini (ITA)
Asst. Referee: Karine Vives Solana (FRA)
4th Official: Dagmar Damkova (CZE)

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