مدير عام كرة القدم
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- Gaupset youngest woman to bag brace at Euros
- Norway will face runner-up in Group B
- Iceland score two late consolation goals
Iceland threw themselves into the game with abandon, perhaps unburdened by the knowledge they were already heading home after losses to Switzerland and Finland. The perennial underdogs harassed and harried their more fancied foes, putting Norway under pressure from the opening whistle. That industry was repaid when Sveindis Jonsdottir fired home the rebound after Cecilie Fiskerstrand tipped a header onto the post from an Icelandic corner. The 7th minute effort was Iceland’s first goal of the tournament.
Their lead lasted just seven minutes. An arrowed corner from Vilde Boe Risa picked out 20-year-old Gaupset in the penalty area, whose volley flew through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner.
Iceland could not sustain their early flurry, with the Norwegians showing the class in possession. Norway were also dogged without the ball, and it was their press that set up the second goal in the 26th minute. Risa won possession deep in Iceland’s half, laying the ball off to Gaupset who drilled the ball across the keeper for her brace. Norway’s grip on the game became even tighter from that moment, with Iceland unable to lay a glove on the imperious double pivot of Risa and Lisa Naalsund.
Gaupset turned provider in the 49th minute, setting up Frida Maanum for Norway’s third with a neat one-two on the edge of the Icelandic box. The Arsenal attacker burst into the area and coolly lifted the ball past Cecilia Runarsdottir to extend the lead.
Norway seemed content to keep their opponents at arm’s length, managing the game with minimal fuss. As Iceland’s head started to drop, Maanum finished the job, firing home from the edge of the box in the 76th minute. Again, the final pass was provided by the outstanding Gaupset.
Just as it seemed the game was set to peter out a lung busting solo run by Jonsdottir followed by a selfless layoff by the Wolfsburg attacker, set up Hlin Eiriksdottir for a late consolation in the 84th minute.
Further late drama came when a VAR check out of nowhere revealed Marit Lund had pulled Eriksdottir to the floor in Norway’s area. The right back had little reason to commit the foul, especially as it was her second yellow of the game, meaning she will be ruled out of Norway’s quarter final tie. Glodis Viggosdottir rifled the penalty home, with the last meaningful kick of the game.
Signe Gaupset: An easy pick. The youngest player to score a brace at the Women’s European Championship at just 20 years and 20 days old. Both goals were taken with aplomb. A star-making performance for a player starting for the first time in this tournament. Has she earned a place in the eleven for Norway’s knockout tie?
Þorsteinn Halldórsson: Iceland’s coach will be bitterly disappointed with three defeats in three. A lack of any discernible pattern of play in attack has left them dependent on the individual efforts of Jonsdottir. The final scoreline flattered his side.
Norway’s three wins in three games will see them take on the runner-up in Group B. While Portugal are technically in with a shout of qualification, their poor goal difference means it will be Italy or Spain in the quarter finals. Iceland head home.
