– I’m not going to comment on it, but I’ve seen better referees so to speak, says Norway’s coach Leif Gunnar Smerud to news. Because during the match there were several situations that the experts were stumped on. Carl-Erik Torp believed that: Norway should have had a free kick ahead of Portugal’s 1-0 scoring. That the first penalty awarded to Portugal was “cheap”. That Portugal should not have received the second penalty that made it 3-2. COACH: Leif Gunnar Smerud. Photo: NTB – It has not been judged well by the judges. The judgment is subject to any criticism. It has been bad judgement, was Torp’s clear verdict on the referees. – It’s extremely cheap, I think she awards me a free kick, says Norway’s goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen. She was close to a duel that led to a penalty, and was given a yellow card by the referee afterwards. – I went to the referee and asked why there was a penalty. Then she seemed scared and pulled up the yellow card. I don’t quite understand what’s going on, she says. Sønderknust Harviken Mathilde Harviken caused the second penalty against for Norway, the goal that secured a 3-2 victory for Portugal. In an interview with news, a devastated national team player had to wipe away tears. – It is heavy. I feel that an individual error on my part contributed to us losing this match, says Harviken, who was comforted by Guro Reiten when it was her turn to be interviewed by news. SUPPORT: Aurora Mikalsen comforts Harviken. Photo: NTB – It’s not her fault. We are a team no matter how it goes. We concede three goals and have some chances going forward. Everyone has a part in this and it is not her (fault) any more than anyone else’s, says Reiten. – Isn’t it too brutal to put all the blame on yourself? asks news Harviken. – Yes, of course, we had chances and there is a lot that happens both ways really. But when you find yourself in a situation like this, it’s easy to take a lot of the blame for it being like this. The Olympic hope is fading Goal scorer Frida Maanum was also not impressed by the level of the referees and called for VAR, which is not used in the women’s national league. – We are talking about an Olympics, which is very important for us players. In situations like that, one would like to have VAR, says Maanum. – Now I haven’t seen it again, but in the match I experience it as a mistake. It is then clear that if VAR had been used, the outcome might have been different. It affects the matches and the result, says Elisabeth Terland. Now Norway stands with one point after two games in the National League. Group leader France has six. Only one team advances from the group and is in the fight for an Olympic ticket. That hope is already fading away for Norway, without the players giving up for that reason. – It is of course tough, but we have two games left against France. If we get six points there is still hope, Maanum believes. To hospital after head bang The match started in dramatic fashion when Norway forward Sophie Román Haug and Portugal’s goalkeeper Ines Pereira chased the same ball. The goalkeeper reached the post from Marit Bratberg Lund first, but just after she had boxed away, the two players collided head to head. They both lay almost motionless on the ground and the doctors ran to the scene. – There are worried facial expressions here and we understand that very well. We have to be extremely careful with head injuries, said news’s commentator Christian Nilssen. Pereira was bandaged around the head with a real “Donald-cool” on his forehead, and replaced after just six minutes. Four minutes later, a Roman Haug, who was bleeding profusely from the nose, was taken off the pitch. She was sent to hospital shortly afterwards. – She got a real smack in the face and probably suffered a broken nose in addition to a small cut. We felt it was best that she went to the hospital for a small check-up, but it is nothing dramatic, said national team doctor Magnus Myntevik to news. – She is a bit shaky and “shaky”, but she is taking it well, he said of the Liverpool player. Magnificent scoring by Maanum Norway’s first goal came after 32 minutes. Ingrid Syrstad Engen found Guro Reiten, who played on to Frida Maanum. In exquisite fashion, the Arsenal player screwed the ball into the far corner. – Standing still, she pokes it in. This is the national shooting competition, not football. It is unacceptable for the goalkeeper, Torp thought. However, the joy was short-lived for the Norwegian team, because in six minutes the Portuguese turned the game around. BEND IT LIKE MAANUM: Frida Maanum followed up with a beautiful goal against Portugal. Photo: NTB Critical of the referee, Norway clumsied up in defense and Andreia Jacinto took the opportunity to knock the ball into the corner. However, a situation at the forefront created reactions. Reiten barely cleared the ball before scoring, before she was tackled to the ground. – After all, the horse will be tired after all. Norway should perhaps have had a free kick there. Silva is too late, the referee could absolutely award a free kick to Norway, Torp said of the situation. EXPERT: Carl-Erik Torp. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Also in Portugal’s 2-1 scoring, the experts believed that the referee made a mistake. Diana Silva went to the ground in a duel with Tuva Hansen and goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen, and the referee pointed to the penalty mark. The replays, however, showed that the Portugal player was not first on the ball, and the experts believed that it was an orderly duel between the opponents. – It feels cheap, said Torp. – These are strange things. Silva doesn’t really touch the ball. It is Hansen who takes Silva, but Mikalsen who gets the yellow card, says expert Alexander Schau. It was a penalty anyway, and even though Mikalsen was awfully close to stopping the shot, the home team took the lead. Terland reduced The second half was all about fighting back for Norway. And at the top, Terland continued to be a nuisance for the Portuguese defence. After 57 minutes, she was played in the back room after a magnificent breakthrough pass by Reiten. Alone against the goalkeeper, however, it was a bit difficult for Terland, who seemed to kick the grass in the closing moments. The goalkeeper saved, but a minute later the 22-year-old had an almost identical opportunity. Now it was Maanum who found the point in the back room and this time she went for the opposite corner. The goalkeeper got a leg at the end, but the ball sailed in an arc into the goal. – Bad refereeing However, this was Portugal’s day. Because they had not finished scoring and once again the referee ended up in Torp’s focus. The home team tried to play Catarina Amado through the Norwegian defence. Mathilde Harviken ran after and ran into the legs of the Portuguese. Amado was far from reaching the ball, but the referee pointed to the penalty mark again. – It is completely incredible. I can’t figure it out. They run into each other with the ball far away. I think it seems completely misunderstood. If Amado can reach that ball, the situation will be completely different, commented Torp. Photo: NTB – It has not been judged well by the judges. The verdict is beyond any doubt. It has been bad judgement, he added later in the match. This time the Carole Costa penalty was solid and Portugal took the lead 3–2 20 minutes before full time. It lasted all the way in, thus Norway’s Olympic hopes are fading away, a full five points behind France after two games.
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Star player to hospital in Norwegian loss – experts believe Norway was doomed – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
