The host nation Slovenia opened with a bang in Ljubljana, with tremendous support from the loud stands. – Booing, piping and whatnot, to put the Norwegian team out, says news commentator Patrick Sten Rowlands. Henny Ella Reistad and Nora Mørk inspired Norway to a hard-fought victory. The former ended up with a double-digit number of scores. – It was a lovely match to win. It’s so nice to get to the semi-finals. It is a sense of security that means a lot, says Reistad to news. THE BEST ON THE FIELD: Henny Ella Reistad played a great game for Norway and was named the best player of the match. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB She let herself get frustrated that Slovenia was allowed to slow down the pace of the match, and blames the referees. – It is frustrating, but what is most frustrating is that the referees allow them to play so slowly, for so long. We had to work hard on ourselves so that it wouldn’t take so much focus, because it was incredibly frustrating. It is boring that they are allowed to do that, says Reistad. Penalty-proof Dark Norway in blue, were somewhat unusually disorganized initially. After falling behind by three goals in the first ten minutes, Thorir Hergeirsson had to take an early timeout. It turned out to be smart. Henny Ella Reistad and Nora Mørk ensured that Slovenia regained the dangerous lead. Nora Mørk scored from yet another penalty – and thus stands with 16 out of 16 complete hits from the seven-metre mark this championship. – When Nora scored from the penalty it was very quiet, says Marit Malm Frafjord. Sjansesløseri Slovenia were heavy and strong in the duels, which made it difficult for Norway. The blue shirts probably felt they could have been more effective in front of goal. During the first half, Norway missed two 100 percent chances. But, the times Norway managed to trick the goalkeeper away, the posts were still in the way. Hit both the crossbar and the posts for Norway. At the opposite end, the star player, Ana Gros, was effective. – Ana Gros cannot be let off the hook so easily, says Rowlands. – She just goes to score another goal for Slovenia, he continues. Marit Malm Frafjord was impressed by the host nation in the first half. – They play well, and they really have world-class players. Gros shoots, the ball goes mostly into the goal. You can’t drop her within 9 metres, says Frafjord. Norway could go to rest with a one-goal lead (16-15), after a frenetic half. Emilie Hovden had a chat with Rowlands during the break. – Many tough duels, and get a lot of beatings. We burn quite a few 100 percent chances that we should have set in the goal. Then we would have had a more comfortable management, says Hovden to news during the break. – Stands the match of the ages Slovenia’s goalkeeper, Maja Vojnovic, stood the match of her life in front of her own supporters. – Maja Vojnovic stands the fight of the ages! And that’s no simple rescue either, it’s simply class rescue, shouts Patrick Rowlands. LIVING WALL: Maja Vojnovic put up the best fight of her life, and delivered a performance she will not soon forget. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – She really does a great job in the goal for Slovenia, adds Marit Malm Frafjord. She had only six saves before this match. In 19 minutes, she had more saves than the entire championship in total. And that against Norway. – She has a good fight. There are many rescues. Then we’ll see how to score on her next time. But she keeps them in the game, says Norway’s goalkeeper Katrine Lunde. During 19 minutes in the second half, Norway scored only three goals. – It’s a tough fight all the way. We are a little behind from the start. Slovenia were good, and we struggled a bit at times to find the nets. I’m just very happy with where we end up, says Lunde to news.
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Norway had a tough time against the host nation Slovenia – secured semi-final in the EC – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
