After respective 10-0 and 4-0 victories over the Ivory Coast and Thailand in Group B’s opening fixtures, these two accomplished European sides went head-to-head in Ottawa, with the winner likely to top the group. Obviously ahead on goal difference, the draw was enough to keep Germany top of the group for now, with Norway needing a 7 goal improvement on Germany’s next result against Thailand to progress as group winners.
With 186 international goals between them heading into the game, Germany’s front 6 were always going to pose a threat to the Norwegian defence and it took them just 5 minutes to break the deadlock. Hat-trick hero against the Ivory Coast, Anja Mittag placed herself top of the goal scorer’s chart for the tournament by picking up on a loose ball in the box after Dzsenifer Marozsan’s shot was spilled by Norwegian goalkeeper and captain Ingred Hjelmseth.
Chances came and went in the following 20 for the likes of Alexandra Popp and Simone Laudehr but the Germans could not extend their lead to a more comfortable two goals, despite an underwhelming performance from the usually impressive Norway. The Scandinavian team’s first real chance came in the 24th minute, but Isabell Herlovsen was ruled offside during a counter-attack. After half an hour, Germany had boasted 61% possession and 13 shots taken, whilst Norway had not yet mustered one.
Their first shot on target came right on the stroke of half time, Herlovsen again a ray of hope for the Norwegians as she found space to shoot inside the box, but German goal keeper Nadine Angerer was alert to tip it over the bar at full stretch. The resulting corner proved troublesome for the Germans – whose defensive frailties from the first fixture had not yet been absconded – as Angerer was surrounded by Norwegian players and put under pressure. The score, however, remained 1-0 going in to break.
After their bright spell at the end of the first half, Norway came out for the restart a different team – pressing the Germans from the off and playing some neat passing football. The side in front were shell-shocked as the constant threat of Herlovsen mounted yet another challenge on Germany’s goal.
As the clock hit 60 minutes a defence-splitting pass looked to have played 19-year-old Ada Hegerberg in for the equaliser before she was hacked down on the edge of the box by Saskia Bartusiak, who was lucky to only see yellow. This was to be the breakthrough, as Maren Mjelde stepped up to the set piece and curled it with beautiful precision into the angle between post and crossbar, in an effort which no goalkeeper in the world would have been able to stop.
The rest of the half saw both teams push for the vital three points with Norway continuing their bright start but the ever-threatening Popp also having opportunities for Germany.
As the heat, and fast tempo of the second half, seemed to catch up with two sides, Hegerberg broke with pace in the closing stages but didn’t have the legs to get any power behind her effort and Marozsan of Germany spurned a late chance in the final minute, smashing an effort high and wide.
It is likely that it will be one of these two teams who face England in the knockout stages of the competition, unless Thailand can pull off a shock defeat of Germany in what would be one of the most dramatic World Cup feats ever.
