Women's World Cup 2019: Penalty double sends Norway through

Daniel Lewis

Women's World Cup 2019: Penalty double sends Norway through image

Norway scored a penalty in each half as they saw off South Korea 2-1 on Monday to finish second in Group A and book a place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup.

With a point being enough to send Norway through, they made a fast start in Reims as Caroline Graham Hansen scored the earliest spotkick in the competition's history after four minutes and 33 seconds.

Martin Sjogren's side, beaten 2-1 by tournament hosts France last time out following a 3-0 win over Nigeria in their opener, added another early in the second half through Isabell Herlovsen's penalty.

Despite pulling one back through Yeo Min-ji 12 minutes from time, there was to be no late twist as South Korea exited the competition without a point from their three round-robin fixtures.

The Asian nation's heaviest defeat in this competition came against Norway in 2003 when losing 7-1 and they were behind inside five minutes on this occasion.

Maria Thorisdottir was dragged down by Cho So-hyun and Hansen sent the first penalty of the game flying past Kim Min-jung.

A good opportunity to level up the match came and went for Yeo two minutes before halftime as she dragged the ball into the side-netting.

And South Korea's failure to create any further clear-cut chances cost them four minutes into the second half as Hansen was felled by Kang Chae-rim and Herlovsen successfully converted, despite Kim getting a hand to the ball.

Following a poor miss from Karina Saevik, Yeo scored a consolation 14 minutes later at the other end with a close-range finish from a smart flick from Lee Geum-min, but it was not enough to stop Norway joining France in the knockout rounds.

Key Opta Facts:

— Norway has won its final group stage match in seven of its previous eight Women's World Cup tournaments (W7 D0 L1), with three of those wins coming against Asian nations.

— Caroline Graham Hansen's opening goal for Norway was the quickest goal scored at the 2019 edition of the Women's World Cup.

— Kristine Minde made her 100th appearance for Norway, the fifth player in the current squad to hit that milestone.

 

Daniel Lewis