Norway still on course

Norway remained in a strong position to qualify for the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship finals with a 6-1 victory at Group 2 rivals Belgium in Strombeek-Bever.

First-half goals
The victory takes the two-time European champions six points clear of Denmark, although the second-placed team are still unbeaten and have two games in hand. Heidi Pedersen gave Norway the perfect start with a goal on eight minutes, and Stine Frantzen doubled their lead ten minutes before the break.

Victory confirmed
Belgium, who lost 9-1 to Spain last week and are yet to win a point in the group, gave themselves hope seven minutes into the second half when Femke Maes converted a penalty. However, with 20 minutes left Tonje Hansen made it 3-1 to Norway, and within ten minutes Pedersen, Ane Stangeland and Solveig Gulbrandsen had all added goals to confirm the same victory margin that Denmark gained in Belgium last October.

Pivotal fixtures
Spain and the Netherlands meet in the next Group 2 fixture on 21 March, and Belgium will look to catch the Dutch, who are three points ahead in fourth place, when they play on 25 April. Norway return to action in the Netherlands on 22 May, five days before their pivotal trip to Denmark.