I have to go with @law10's choice, even if it means choosing Jensen for two consecutive weeks: her technique is really impressive. The Sandviken's player who scored the header looks quite tall even by Norwegian standards...
Fair enough. Synne Jensen was very close to scoring an even better goal this weekend. Check out this free-kick. Yes, Maria Brochmann. She is 183 cm.
The Norway squad is gathered at Marbella, Spain preparing for the two matches against New Zealand. The first unofficial one behind closed doors is on Friday, and the official friendly on Tuesday next week. Players showing off their new outfits. It's a do or die outfit, isn't it? You can't fail in the World Cup wearing something like that. I mean, if you do, that pattern and colour combo will forever be linked to fiasco and vice versa if you win. You can't be neutral to it. It stands out too much. Let's pray for luck. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=523909148136356
Runa Lillegård was voted GotW from matchday 2. I think it might be a good idea to update the GotW candidates and winners as the season unfolds: Goal of the Week - nominees and winners Matchday 1: nominees - winner (Synne Jensen for Røa away at Sandviken) Matchday 2: nominees - winner (Runa Lillegård for Lyn away at Arna Bjørnar)
Caro Hansen is on the move to Barcelona. According to NRK, her agent is traveling to Barcelona tomorrow to negotiate the final pieces in the contract. Since refusing to extend the Wolfsburg deal, Caro has been approached by pretty much every major club in Europe, but Barcelona seem to get the nod.
Not football in Norway, but Norwegians helping other countries - PhD student Charlotte Lysa was in Saudi Arabia to research the obscure women's league: - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/wo...le-east-mid-asia.2085832/page-3#post-37654940 And the new film Khartoum Offside, about the Sudan national team, is a Norwegian and Danish co-production: - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/soccer-film-khartoum-offside.2102941/
Today was the first game, behind closed doors, Norway v New Zealand in Spain - the NFF has a report on the Norway U23s' win 2-1 against Italy, but the seniors' match is very secret and legally no images can be printed, except this: Nah just kidding, New Zealand Football put some photos up. PHOTOS | Some of the best shots from the #FootballFerns training game against Norway in Marbella Spain. Their second game, an A International is on Wednesday morning NZT #ForTheFern https://t.co/YT30zV5Xbq pic.twitter.com/yJ25UnuMpw— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) April 5, 2019 Match report by NZF: - https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/75301 (Archived)
Unofficial friendly: Norway 1 - 0 New Zealand Eikeland 9 Even when the VG reporter texted Sjögren after the match to get some news, he still wouldn't give away the result. Oh well, re-match on Tuesday.
Norway lost 1-0 to New Zealand in the friendly that counted today. Shambolic performance in the notorious new World Cup jersey. The Kiwis scored the winner early on gifted to them by Thorisdottir. I don't even want to read Sjögren's excuses after this game and what he learnt from this camp with the secret game and everything. On the other hand, better news from the younger teams: - U23 won a tournament at La Manga after three straight wins. Norway beat Italy 2-1, England 3-2 and France 1-0. - U19 qualified to the European championship beating Denmark 3-0 in the group decider.
While disappointing was the loss to New Zealand, I still think Norway ladies are playing pretty well as a unit but yesterday's game was "one of those games" that frustrates with no scoring. I like Norway being a more aggressive team, in general ; the defense overall has been solid and the back line seems healthy going forward. My question: why did he not start Utland up front with Herlovsen (leaving Hansen as the dangerous attacking MF)? Utland is a physical presence up there and has scored. Maybe the pre-WWC "game" of not showing your full hand before WWC? I am less concerned (yes, am disappointed as a fan) with the result and more impressed with their playing style, IMHO.
I think he went full out for the win and started as strong a lineup as possible. Look at what was on the bench. The only expected card he didn't play was Moe Wold and I give him credit for starting her in the sitting position, although I don't think playing Synne Skinnes Hansen in the back is any better. The highlights showed some good flowing play and chances and without world class striking outside Hansen that's a good thing and means the system is working. Finishing is often flighty in the game and to a fair degree mentality, the players have to own the result, the chances were there and not taken. If they can create opportunities like that against opponents of a slightly higher caliber then they've put themselves in the ballpark. And if you're going to lay an egg, better to do it and get the wakeup call now with still a couple months to patch the holes in the hull.
Toppserien 2019 - Matchday 3 Sandviken 3 - 0 Stabæk Naalsund 9(p), Ryland 48, Brochmann 63 Vålerenga 4 - 0 Fart Dowie 3, 69, 87, Markussen 41 Lyn 0 - 0 Kolbotn RC: My Haugland Sørsdahl (Kolbotn) 44 Pen miss: Linn Huseby (Lyn) 45 LSK Kvinner 3 - 1 Arna Bjørnar Reiten 23, 66, Haavi 72 - Nautnes 29 Klepp 1 - 0 Røa H.Hansen 55 Trondheims-Ørn 1 - 1 Avaldsnes Adserø 26 - Stefanovic 90 TOP SCORERS 5 - Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner) 4 - Natasha K. Dowie (Vålerenga) 2 - Dejana Stefanovic (Avaldsnes) 2 - Tameka Butt (Klepp) 2 - Isabell Herlovsen (Kolbotn) 2 - Nora Eide Lie (Kolbotn) 2 - Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner) 2 - Synne Jensen (Røa) 2 - Maria Brochmann (Sandviken) 2 - Kennya Cordner (Sandviken)
3rd Matchday - Goal of the Week candidates 1 - Hege Hansen, Klepp (at home vs Røa) 2 - Maria Brochmann, Sandviken (at home vs Stabæk) 3 - Emilie Nautnes, Arna-Bjørnar (away at LSK Kvinner) Not sure who to pick this week. All decent teamwork goals. I'm probably going with number 3, Nautnes.
just added pre-WWC friendly per NFF website: Upcoming matches South Africa - Norway › 02.06.2019 20.00 - Stadium Moulonguet, Amiens, France
Candidate number 1, Hege Hansen won GotW for matchday 3. Matchday 1: nominees - winner (Synne Jensen for Røa away at Sandviken) Matchday 2: nominees - winner (Runa Lillegård for Lyn away at Arna Bjørnar) Matchday 3: nominees - winner (Hege Hansen for Klepp at home vs Røa) In other news... Two Sandviken-players are strongly linked to transfers abroad, according to VG. Central defender Stine Hovland and right back Cecilie Kvamme are wanted by AC Milan and West Ham. Kvamme is also wanted by Bordeaux. According to Sandviken's CEO, both are likely to leave in the next transfer window. Will be interesting to see where they end up.
Because of Champions League qualifying matches in August, one Toppserien match from matchday 12 had to be rescheduled and played today: Lyn 0 - 2 LSK Kvinner Reiten 4, 89(p)
TOPPSERIEN 2019 - Matchday 4 Everything is going LSK's way, even when they are not playing well. Big win today of course against the weakest team in the league, but other expected top teams drop points all over the place. Sandviken threw away a two-goal lead at Kolbotn, Klepp and Røa both lost against teams they were favoured to win, and Vålerenga drew at Avaldsnes. Kolbotn 3 - 2 Sandviken Eide Lie 17, Herlovsen 65, Lund 72(p) - Cordner 5, Eikeland 7 Arna Bjørnar 1 - 0 Klepp Ebere 4 Røa 2 - 3 Lyn Holum 2, Jensen 44 - Lillegård 10, Thoresen 48, Hasund 82 Fart 0 - 4 LSK Kvinner Reiten 20, Hansen 45, Abrahamsen 53, Thorsnes 71 Stabæk 1 - 1 Trondheims-Ørn Bjånesøy 9 - Engesvik 19 Avaldsnes 2 - 2 Vålerenga Jøsendal 41, Stefanovic 83(p) - Njoya 39, Christiansen 71 TOP SCORERS 8 - Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner) 4 - Natasha K. Dowie (Vålerenga) 3 - Dejana Stefanovic (Avaldsnes) 3 - Isabell Herlovsen (Kolbotn) 3 - Nora Eide Lie (Kolbotn) 3 - Synne Jensen (Røa) 3 - Kennya Cordner (Sandviken) 2 - Tameka Butt (Klepp) 2 - Meryll Abrahamsen (LSK Kvinner) 2 - Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner) 2 - Runa Lillegård (Lyn) 2 - Maria Brochmann (Sandviken) 2 - Rakel Engesvik (Trondheims-Ørn) 2 - Ajara Njoya (Vålerenga)
4th Matchday - Goal of the Week candidates 1 - Ajara Njoya, Vålerenga (away at Avaldsnes) 2 - Vilde Hasund, Lyn (away at Røa) 3 - Synne Hansen, LSK Kvinner (away at Fart) For pure skills, I'm going with Ajara Njoya this time. If you want to influence the outcome, you can vote here.
Lindsey Harris, GK for Klepp ranked 9th best US GK in this article at the age of 25. 3 shut outs in 4 games this season with Klepp and was on team last year when they won the silver https://www.everybodysoccer.com/even-the-goalkeepers-like-to/2019/3/25/top-60-uswnt-goalkeepers
Harris has been very good. Definitely a Top 3 keeper in the league. From that link of yours, I also recognize three other names in the Top 10 who have played in Norway recently. Adrianna Franch (Avaldsnes), Katie Fraine (Avaldsnes) and Michelle Betos (Vålerenga).
Candidate number 1, Ajara Njoya won GotW for matchday 4. Matchday 1: nominees - winner (Synne Jensen for Røa away at Sandviken) Matchday 2: nominees - winner (Runa Lillegård for Lyn away at Arna Bjørnar) Matchday 3: nominees - winner (Hege Hansen for Klepp at home vs Røa) Matchday 4: nominees - winner (Ajara Njoya for Vålerenga away at Avaldsnes)
Toppserien 2019 - Matchday 5 Lyn 2 - 0 Stabæk L.Huseby 26(p), 84 Fart 2 - 3 Kolbotn Blakstad 12(p), Nilsen 50 - Sævik 46, 78, Eide Lie 58 Sandviken 6 - 4 Avaldsnes Brochmann 26, 56, Cordner 39, 81, Ervik 51, 62 - Jøsendal 35, Tvedten 49, Dahl 53, Stefanovic 90(p) LSK Kvinner 1 - 1 Røa Reiten 66(p) - Birkeli 70 RC: Vanhaevermaet 83 (mf, Røa) Vålerenga 1 - 0 Arna Bjørnar Ildhusøy 59 Trondheims-Ørn 0 - 1 Klepp Wyne 42 This is going to be some championship race! LSK dropped points at home. I doubt Reiten will keep the goal after examination. Her penalty hit the post, then hit the goalkeeper in the back before going in. Vålerenga and Klepp can go past LSK if they win their games in hand. Stabæk, the flagship of Norwegian club woso some years ago, are now below the relegation line and deservedly so. Avaldsnes are hovering in the bottom section also this year. Times are a changin'. TOP SCORERS 9 - Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner) 5 - Kennya Cordner (Sandviken) 4 - Dejana Stefanovic (Avaldsnes) 4 - Nora Eide Lie (Kolbotn) 4 - Maria Brochmann (Sandviken) 4 - Natasha K. Dowie (Vålerenga) 3 - Isabell Herlovsen (Kolbotn) 3 - Synne Jensen (Røa) NEXT MATCHDAY 01 May: Arna Bjørnar – Sandviken 01 May: Avaldsnes – Fart 01 May: LSK Kvinner – Stabæk 01 May: Røa – Kolbotn 01 May: Trondheims-Ørn – Vålerenga 01 May: Klepp – Lyn
Well, 10 goals in a single game is quite impressive! Also, when it does happen, usually is one team vastly outscoring the other one, things like 10-0 or 9-1. 6-4 is some odd result!