Haavi earns Norway narrow victory

Emilie Haavi's late winner earned Norway an opening FIFA Women's World Cup group stage victory against Equatorial Guinea in Augsburg.

Though Norway began the match well, and hit the woodwork three times, there was little to choose between the two sides in an open match in which Anonman missed three golden chances for Guinea. However, Norway, and Haavi in particular, were eventually rewarded for their tireless efforts.

Haavi might have decided the match at the start, rather than the end, when she sent a low shot past Miriam and off the far post after as early as the second minute. Indeed, Guinea had to weather an early storm as Elise Thorsnes blazed over when well placed before forcing Miriam into a smart stop.

Marcello Frigerio's side soon reacted, however, Jumaria almost catching out Ingrid Hjelmseth with an ambitious lob from 35 metres, while only a timely intervention by the backtracking Haavi denied Dulcia in the area. The Nzalang Nacional were now growing in confidence, as evidenced by Diala's 20-metre attempt which was well saved by Hjelmseth, and should have gone ahead on the stroke of half-time when Anonman broke through, only to be denied again by the inspired goalkeeper.

The Guinea captain was a menace throughout, turning on the edge of the area eight minutes after the restart only to fire well wide and driving wide again on 70 minutes. She might have been punished for her profligacy when Lena Mykjåland hit a post after a lay-off by Isabell Herlovsen, who then struck the other upright following a goalmouth scramble.

Haavi must have thought she had missed her chance to win the match when she fired just over after cutting inside from the left following another deft turn with eight minutes to go, but when Leni Larsen Kaurin eluded her markers to cross from the right the indefatigable Haavi made no mistake.