Norway´s women stun United States at Games

Norway stunned defending champions the United States with a 2-0 win in their Group G women's football match at the Qinhuangdao Stadium here Wednesday.

It was sweet revenge for the Norwegians after they were beaten by the United States a year ago in the play-off for third at the World Cup.

Determined not to go down again, they shocked the United States with an opening blitz that saw both goals scored in the first three minutes.

Although a third goal proved elusive, Norway's trio of Solveig Gulbrandsen, Melissa Wiik and Leni Larsen Kaurin ensured they dominated on attack.

It was only the second time the United States has been beaten at the Olympics after winning gold twice and losing the 2000 final in Sydney – again to Norway – in the three previous years women's football has been a Games sport.

The match was only a minute old when Kaurin headed in the opener for Norway as a mix-up in the US goal saw Lori Chalupny collide with goalkeeper Hope Solo and both crashed to the ground as Kaurin rose for the ball.

Play had hardly restarted than Wiik latched onto a through ball and fired the shot past a diving Solo and into the lefthand side of the net.

It was the fastest goal ever in the history of the women's Olympic football tournament.

Meanwhile, Chalupny a 70 cap veteran for the United States, was struggling following her fall and was substituted for Stephanie Cox soon after.

The United States suffered from wayward passing and perhaps a touch of opening night nerves for when they did mount an impressive build up it was cut short by long-range shots that Norwegian 'Keeper Erika Skarboe had covered.

Their errors were compounded in the second half when Amy Rodriguez made a dummy attempt at a free kick and then ran forward only to have the designated kicker Rachel Buehler fire the ball into her back.

Shannon Boxx was presented with the United States best chance to get on the scoreboard late in the match but her shot ricocheted off the right post.

The win put Norway in the box seat to win Group G, which also includes Japan and New Zealand who drew 2-2 in the earlier match here..