Guro Reiten sets seal on victory as Norway sweep Northern Ireland aside

Northern Ireland had a far from fairytale start to their first major tournament as they were emphatically beaten by Norway in their Group A match in Southampton. Martin Sjögren’s team soared to the top of the group on goal difference, knocking England off the top spot following their 1-0 win over Austria on Wednesday.

Caroline Graham Hansen showed that Northern Ireland were in for a tough evening in the early stages. She beat multiple defenders to run half the pitch and feed Guro Reiten, whose attempt went over the bar. The chances just kept coming with shots from Frida Maanum and Ada Hegerberg.

Northern Ireland needed a defensive fortress to try and gain a point but it was not long until Norway brought it down. In the tenth minute the ball was worked well to Julie Blakstad, who sliced it into the bottom left corner. Northern Ireland looked to strike back quickly but Rachel Furness’ long range attempt went begging and the team’s night went from bad to worse.

A defensive horror show allowed Maanum to pounce. Goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns played a short ball to Chloe McCarron but it came in the path of Hegerberg. The Lyon forward tapped a pass to Arsenal’s Maanum who doubled their lead. Maanum continued to be lively with another thundering hit going just wide and winning a corner. Gasps came from the Norwegian fans as a Hegerberg header grazed the front of goal from the set-piece but it was not long until they had their third.

VAR, which is in use for Euro 2022, was employed as Nadene Caldwell seemed to handball while defending a corner ball. The referee Lina Lehtovaara gave the spot kick after a review and Graham Hansen made no mistake to put Norway 3-0 up.

Simone Magill had Northern Ireland’s best chance of the half but