The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsDay Two of FIFA’s Women’s World Cup and the tournament moved to Ottawa, where Norway took on the Thai’s and then two-time World Champions Germany faced new-comers the Ivory Coast at the Lansdowne Stadium in Group B.
NORWAY 4 THAILAND 0
The Norwegian’s blasted into a three goal lead after a superb curling free-kick from skipper Trine Ronning in her fourth World Cup after the just 15 minutes, then after some neat passing, the ball found it’s way to starlet Isabelle Herlovsen in the area to calmly slot home with her trusty left foot after half an hour.
Soon after, the same player sent a close range header past the Thai keeper after a Solveig Gulbrandsen centre on 34 minutes. The break came as a much needed break for Thailand who had to defend for nearly the entire first half, as they looked to re-group and try to somehow manage to get something from the match.
However, no fightback materialised and Norway grabbed their fourth after the hour as Ada Hegerberg’s right footed effort found the roof of the net, after being found by Elise Thorsnes lofted pass. It could have also gotten a lot worse for Thailand though, after 29 year old defender Duangnapa Sritala’s handball, but Maren Mjelde’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Waraporn Boonsing in the Thai goal.
The Thai’s did nearly score late on as a long range effort hit the crossbar, but in truth the game had long gone away from them by then.
Norway: 4-3-3: I, Hjelmseth, M. Mjelde, T. Ronning (c) (63′ M. Melis), L. Stentler (45′ D. Bito), I. Wold, S. Gulbrandsen (69′ D. van Luteren), R. Slegers, S. Worm, K. Hegland, I. Herlovsen, A. Hegerberg.
Thailand: 4-2-3-1: W.Boonsing, W. Phetwiset, D. Sritala (c), N. Chinwong, S. Srangthaisong, P. Khueanpet, S. Intamee, R. Thongsombut, N. Seesraum (59′ O. Srimanee), A. Maijarern (90′ T. Chawong), K. Sung-Ngoen.
