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Norway's Ada Hegerberg in a duel with Northern Ireland's Lauren Wade
Photo:
IMAGO/Eibner/Memmler / IMAGO/Eibner
The Norwegian national team around star Ada Hegerberg started the European Football Championship with a 4-1 (3-0) win against Northern Ireland.
Julie Blakstad (10th), Frida Maanum (13th), Caroline Hansen (31st, hand penalty after video evidence) and Guro Reit (54th) scored for Norway at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton.
Julie Nelson had meanwhile shortened (49th).
It is the sixth win in a row for the national team from Norway.
The Northern Irish are the only team in England to be taking part in a European Championship for the first time and went into the tournament as clear underdogs.
The "Green & White Army" was supported in the stadium by numerous fans in the Northern Irish colors.
Nevertheless, the Northern Irish attacked early in the first few minutes and disrupted Norway's play structure.
Coach Martin Sjögren's team didn't need long to sort themselves out.
After a throw-in from the right-hand side, Riding passed from the center into the run to Blakstad, who got off to a flying start, and scored from 14 meters and a half-left position (10th minute).
And Norway followed suit: The ball got into the penalty area and Hegerberg only had to cross it to Maanum (13).
Before the break, former Wolfsburg player Caroline Hansen (31') increased the penalty with a penalty after an unnecessary handball from Nadene Caldwell.
In the second half, Julie Nelson (49) shortened with Northern Ireland's acclaimed first EM goal.
Norway were unable to clear the ball in the penalty area after taking a corner for Northern Ireland and Nelson headed in a Rachel Furness assist.
But Norway's Guro Riding (54th) restored the old distance almost immediately with a direct free kick from around 20 meters.
Overall, Norway had 60 percent possession and 21 completions (Northern Ireland: six).
Norway wants reparations
The European champions from 1987 and 1993 want to make amends in England for their performance at the 2017 European Championship.
At that time, the Norwegians failed with three defeats and 0:4 goals in the group stage.
Hegerberg had withdrawn from the national team for almost five years because of a dispute with the NFF association.
Their frustration stemmed from the unequal treatment of footballers in Norway.
It was about payment, but above all about promotion, about equality, about the speed with which the more successful women's football was promoted in her home country.
In addition, the 26-year-old striker of the Champions League winner Olympique Lyon was plagued at times by a serious knee injury.
Hegerberg announced earlier this year that she was returning to the national team.
Norway takes the lead in Group A with the win. The hosts from England won the opening game of the European Championship on Wednesday 1-0 (1-0) against Austria.
In the second group game next Monday (9 p.m.) in Brighton, the hosts are waiting for the Norwegians.
Three hours earlier, Northern Ireland meets Austria in Southampton.
The German national team starts the tournament against Denmark (9 p.m.) on Friday.
Schedule, live ticker, results: you can read everything you need to know about the tournament here
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