Norway ties Canada with late goal Jul. 17, 2002. 09:40 PM From Canadian Press Olympic champion Norway scored on a deflection with two minutes to play and salvaged a 2-2 tie with Canada in a women's soccer exhibition game Wednesday night. Canada had seemed headed for its first-ever victory over Norway on the strength of Charmaine Hooper's 49th international goal, which came midway through the second half. But Trine Ronning's shot deflected off defender Isabelle Morneau and past Erin McLeod to deny Canadian coach Even Pellerud a win over the team he led to the World Cup in 1995. Hooper, the Canadian captain playing in her 83rd international contest, gave Canada a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute after fellow-striker Christine Sinclair attacked the Norwegian penalty box from the left, tormenting her marker. The ball found its way to Hooper, who turned and fired the ball into the corner of the net. Canada had more chances on a hot, windy evening before 4,625 but managed to squander all but two against a Norwegian side that has surely seen better nights. Canada went ahead in the ninth minute on a long free kick into the box that the Norwegians failed to clear. The ball fell to Andrea Neil, who turned and found the corner of the goal with a right-footed shot. The Canadians had several decent chances soon after, but could not find the target. And when Neil went off in the 23rd minute with an ankle injury, Pellerud had to rejig his 4-3-3 formation. Silvana Burtini moved back into the midfield and 15-year-old substitute Kara Lang, earning her eighth cap, moved up front. The new-look Canadian lineup promptly lost its momentum. The Norwegians also were out of synch. On several occasions, their slick passing exposed the Canadian defence but they could not finish. It took a goal line clearance by Breanna Boyd in the 32nd minute to prevent a tying goal by Dagny Mellgren after a neat pass sent her in alone and she chipped goalkeeper Erin McLeod. Still, it appeared as though it was only a matter of time before the Norwegians caught the Canadians napping in the back. And Mellgren tied the game in the 42nd minute by tapping home a nice cross from Anita Rapp, who had two teammates waiting for the ball in the box. Norway looked vulnerable to set pieces and every Canadian corner there were nine in the first half alone was an adventure in the blustery conditions. The Norwegians looked more composed in the second half, but again failed to show much up front. Canada was 0-5 against Norway going into the game, with the Norwegians outscoring the Canadians 25-3. Norway won 9-1 in their previous meeting, in June 2001, and was a 7-1 victor at the 1999 World Cup. Both coaches had almost all of their top guns at their disposal for Wednesday's match. Canada was without Christine Latham (school commitments) and Amy Walsh (recovering from injury) while the Norwegians were without World Cup goalkeeper Bente Nordby. Still the touring Norwegians, who next play the U.S., brought nine members of their '99 World Cup squad with them. Norway was beaten in the '99 semifinals by China. With Varsity Stadium being redeveloped, the game was played at Centennial Stadium near Pearson Airport in the northwest part of the city. The venue was hardly an advertisement for Canadian soccer despite the good crowd most U.S. high school football teams would turn their nose up at the facility. The spotty playing surface looked like the All-England tennis club in the second week of Wimbledon and the outdated scoreboard was out of commission. CP 2111ES 17-07-02
back to International Soccer menu
.
.