U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team falls to Norway 4-2 in friendly after Three Nations Tournament
After winning the Three Nations Tournament in Norway by virtue of a 1-1 tie with Sweden and a 4-1 victory against the hosts, the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team finished its European event with a 4-2 loss to the Norwegians in a friendly match.
In one of the stranger results in recent U.S. WNT history, after defeating the Norway U-23s soundly by a 4-1 score two days earlier, the USA fell behind 4-0 after just 15 minutes before getting goals from North Carolina’s Amber Brooks and Stanford’s Courtney Verloo.
The USA found itself down 1-0 after just three minutes on a cold and rainy afternoon. A loss of possession at midfield led to a counterattack and Norway was able to advance down the left side before sending in a service across the six-yard box to Andrea Haugstol, who touched it past U.S. goalkeeper Brittany Anghel into the bottom right corner of the net.
Syracuse’s Anghel, who was playing in her first international match, would give up three more in the first quarter of an hour, the second goal in the sixth minute after another turnover in the midfield forced her to come out of the goal to clear, only to hit the ball straight to Andrine Hegerberg who chipped the U.S. goalkeeper from 25 yards out.
The third goal came in the 11th minute off a lofted header from Line Holter that passed just under the crossbar. Norway finished its onslaught in the 15th minute when Hegerberg shot from 18 yards off the right post and in.
Amazingly, all six goals were scored in the first half and the USA got its two goals by scoring twice in three minutes. The first came in the 35th minute when a free kick was cleared to Duke’s Natasha Anasi, who sent a far-post cross for Brooks to finish with a diving header.
Two minutes later, Ingrid Wells – who is currently playing in Sweden’s top division with Kopparbergs/Goteborg – crossed from the right wing to Verloo, who flicked it off the right post and in from close range.
The international friendly in Norway concludes the U.S. U-23 activity for the summer as the college players will now prepare for their upcoming fall seasons.
Match: United States U-23 Women’s National Team vs. Norway U-23 Women’s National Team
Date: June 19, 2012
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Overlands Minde Stadium; Stjordalen, Norway
Weather: 47 degrees, rain
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
NOR 4 0 4
NOR – Andrea Haugstol 3rd minute
NOR – Andrine Hegerberg 6
NOR – Line Holter 11
NOR – Andrine Hegerberg 15
USA – Amber Brooks (Natasha Anasi) 35
USA – Courtney Verloo (Ingrid Wells) 37
Lineups:
USA: 18-Brittany Anghel (1-Adrianna Franch, 46); 3-Camille Levin, 4-Gabriella Toulouse (2-Elli Reed, 58), 14-Natasha Anasi, 5-Toni Pressley; 8-Amber Brooks (capt.), 9-Ingrid Wells (7-Christine Nairn, 46), 13-Meleana Shim; 11-Stephanie Ochs (10-Morgan Marlborough, 46), 12-Sarah Hagen (6-Amanda DaCosta, 46), 15-Courtney Verloo
Subs not used: None
Head Coach: Randy Waldrum
NOR: 1-Ane Fimreite (12-Hilde Gunn Olsen, 46); 2-Astrid Ree (14-Cecilie Liane, 46), 4-Gunhild Herregarden (3-Caroline Walde, 46), 5-Anette Jengesdal, 13-Ina Gausdal; 6-Ina Skaug, 7-Line Holter (8-Trine Lise Arik, 46), 9-Ida Elisa Enget (11-Oda Fugelsnes,62); 10-Andrea Haugstol (17-Julie Adsero, 80), 15-Andrine Hegerberg 16-Camilla Christensen
Subs not used: 18-Tina Algroy
Head Coach: Goril Kringen
Stats Summary: USA / NOR
Shots: 14 / 7
Shots on Goal: 7 / 6
Saves: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 9 / 5
Offside: 3 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
None
