Norway Ladies 2-1 Finland Ladies: Caroline Graham Hansen leaves it late to grab victory as knockouts beckon | Soccer Information

A late solo strike by Norway ahead Caroline Graham Hansen secured a 2-1 victory in opposition to Finland within the Ladies’s European Championship on Sunday, because the twice champions took an enormous step in direction of qualifying for the knockout section.

Norway’s second Group A win put them prime of the standings with six factors. Finland, who defeated Iceland of their opening sport, stay on three.

“We buzzed our strategy to three factors in a method or one other, however that is what counts in championships. There is a bit to work with, however we received, it helps,” participant of the match Graham Hansen instructed Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Eva Nystrom’s personal objective put Norway forward after three minutes as Graham Hansen’s cross hit the Finland defender and slid cruelly into the online.

The Norwegians had been unfortunate to not rating once more after they hit the woodwork twice inside a minute, Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s close-range header putting the crossbar earlier than Finland goalkeeper Anna Koivunen tipped Vilde Boe Risa’s nook onto the put up.

Finland equalised within the thirty second minute when midfielder Oona Siren discovered ahead Oona Sevenius with a exact by way of ball. Sevenius hammered a left-foot shot into the highest proper nook to attain her first worldwide objective for over a yr.

Graham Hansen then stepped as much as seal the win within the 84th minute, fooling two defenders with fast toes as she drifted in from the appropriate and rifled a shot in off the far put up.

Norway, who beat Switzerland of their opening sport, might have a spot within the quarter-finals confirmed if the hosts beat Iceland afterward Sunday, or if the match ends in a draw.

Finland face Switzerland on Thursday when Norway play Iceland.