Vilde Boe Risa and Ramona Bachmann were both protagonists in the goalless draw between Switzerland and Norway. Photo via Manchester United Women Twitter
Switzerland and Norway shared the spoils after a 0-0 draw earlier today. Hegerberg’s injury and Hege Riise’s decision to drop Caroline Graham Hansen and Ingrid Engen to the bench will be questioned, but it will not matter to Switzerland who will back themselves against co-hosts New Zealand to secure passage to the round of sixteen.
Big Calls by Norway’s Hege Riise and Hegerberg’s Disappearance into the tunnel
Switzerland’s Inka Grings made just one change to their line-up, as Nadine Riessen replaced Luana Buehler. The change pushed Noelle Maritz to central defence, with Riessen taking the wing-back duty.
Following the defeat to New Zealand there was plenty of anticipation into what Hege Riise’s next move would be. There were no changes at the back, but plenty in front of the defence. As had been rumoured prior to kick-off, Ingrid Engen was dropped from the line-up, with Vilde Boe Risa taking her place. Hege Riise stuck to the use of Guro Reiten in midfield alongside Frida Maanum. Caroline Graham Hansen also dropped to the bench, with Amalie Eikeland taking her place, while Julie Blakstad was replaced by Emilie Haavi.
Drama started even before the first whistle as Ada Hegerberg walked off the pitch shortly after the national anthems and was replaced by Sophie Roman Haug. Early news suggested that Hegerberg felt unwell, but later reports suggested that she picked up a groin injury in the warm-up.
Shifting Momentum but Neither Able to Break the Deadlock
It was Switzerland who first settled into the lion’s share of possession, with Norway pinned back and instead attempting to launch long-balls. A cross from Coumba Sow caused some panic but Mathilde Harviken headed away from danger. However, the tide turned following the first quarter of an hour.
Norway had their first big chance from a corner after twenty minutes, which landed at Maren Mjelde’s feet at the near post, but the veteran got underneath it. Frida Leonhardsen Maanum then looped a ball onto Sophie Roman Haug’s head but goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann got enough on it.
Switzerland regained a footing after about half an hour. A smart ball from Coumba Sow to Ana Maria Crnogorcevic opened up the defence but the striker was off target. A cross from Nadine Riesen ended up testing goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen, with the Swiss earning a corner however nothing came of it.
Norway Force the Issue to No Avail
As the second half kicked on, the two teams stuck to the same rhythm and it took until the fifty-fifth minute for Guro Reiten to spark some life into the match with a cross from the left wing. Amalie Eikeland knocked it down for Roman Haug who struck sweetly, but once again Gaelle Thalmann palmed it away.
The fifty-seventh minute saw Amalie Eikeland give way to Caroline Graham Hansen whose appearance marked her three hundredth for her country. The two sides continued to size each other up. Frida Maanum made a dart down the right wing but the cross was gobbled up by Thalmann. At the other end, Sow and Bachmann linked up in the box but Norway’s Maren Mjelde cleared for a corner. Unfortunately the Swiss delivery was just too high for Coumba Sow to be able to connect. Shortly after, Caroline Graham Hansen fizzed a dangerous ball, but there was no attacker at the near post which allowed Gaelle Thalmann to palm it away.
The Swiss showed a lot of patience in play and rarely forced their game. They used the counterattack whenever viable, but otherwise slowed down the pace of play and looked for neat combinations closer to the penalty box. However, close to the sixtieth minute the side caught Hege Riise’s midfield wide open allowing Ramona Bachmann to dart up field in acres of space. Despite this, Norway were let off the hook when she dragged her effort wide, though perhaps the better option may have been to pass to Seraina Piubel who was in space. Ana Maria Crnogorcevic then made a run up the wing and her cross was deflected straight into the path of Sow, but Frida Maanum tracked back to aid the defence.
Norway tried to up the ante with Tuva Hansen winning a corner off the left wing, but the Swiss defence stood tall. Geraldine Reuteler injected more life into the Swiss side with a lovely strike from distance but Aurora Mikalsen watched it all the way. With time running out, the seventy-second minute saw Riise look to her bench once more, with Karina Saevik and Anja Sonstevold taking to the pitch in replacement of Sophie Roman Haug and Tuva Hansen.
Shortly after, Caroline Graham Hansen was again on the trot, displaying her flair to cut on the inside and driving a left-footed effort that had Thalmann on the stretch. Though Frida Maanum raced to put the ball back into the box, the defence cleared for a corner. Vilde Boe Risa tried a volley from just inside the box but it flew above the crossbar.
Inka Grings freshened up the side by bringing on Sandrine Mauron in the 78th minute, who replaced Geraldine Reuteler. The Swiss carved out a good opportunity with some neat short passing, however the final ball lacked the quality before the offside flag also ruled out the attack. Crnogorcevic then mounted a counter-attack on the left wing, with Harviken winning the tussle to send Norway back on the attack.
Another good opportunity rose for for Norway on the left wing as Haavi was brought down, but Switzerland had Caroline Graham Hansen’s delivery covered. Norway got a more dangerous free-kick opportunity soon after when Lia Walti brought down Maren Mjelde in a central position, just as the veteran attempted to recycle the ball into the box. Once again Graham Hansen took charge of the kick with the opportunity to send Norway into the lead, but her strike kept rising over the top of the crossbar.
Seraina Piubel had the opportunity to send Switzerland into the lead late on but Mikkalsen was equal to the strike. With time running out, Hege Riise looked to her bench once more, bringing on Ingrid Engen and Marit Lund in the 88th minute, who replaced Vilde Boe Risa and Thea Bjelde respectively. Meanwhile, Inka Grings brought on Mariame Terchoun for Seraina Piubel.
The two sides kept plugging away until the final moments, but to no avail. Ana Maria Crnogorcevic sent a dangerous ball into the box but Mjelde was first to the ball which allowed Norway to recover. The Swiss then again flooded forward thanks to substitute Mariame Terchoun, but play was pulled back for offside. Caroline Graham Hansen launched a free-kick from mid-pitch but Norway could not trouble the goalkeeper, ending the match all square.
The match sends Switzerland to the top of the group with four points, trailed by New Zealand and Philippines who have three apiece. Norway sit bottom of the table with just one point and so will definitely need to win the match against the Philippines, while hoping that the result between Switzerland and New Zealand goes their way. They will also hope that the injury to Ada Hegerberg is not long-term as they need all hands to the pump if they are to progress to the knockout stages.
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