FNT: Norway-Germany [R]

Norway – Germany 2-2 (1-1)
1-0 27. min Dagny Mellgren
1-1 35. min Martina Müller
2-1 72. min Anita Rapp
2-2 87. min Linda Bresonik (penalty)
Yellow card: Marianne Paulsen
Attendance: 20.000

Germany:
Rottenberg
Minnert, Tina Wunderlich (46. Stegemann), Bresonik, Zerbe
Wiegmann (46. Wimbersky), Pia Wunderlich, Odebrecht, Garefrekes
Prinz, Müller (70. Kliehm)

Norway :
Astrid Johannessen
Marianne Paulsen, Monica Knudsen, Ingvild Stensland, Brit Sandaune - Unni Lehn, Solveig Gulbrandsen (72. Trine Rønning), Lise Klaveness, Hege Riise, Anita Rapp - Dagny Mellgren

What can I say. Sometimes the best team doesn’t win. So this was a very lucky draw for Germany.
Norway had a better game and some pretty good chances. As usual, 4-5-1 formation by Norway with a good Hege Riise controlling the midfield. First norwegian goal was typical: Long ball from midfield by Hege Riise and Dagny Mellgren was able to head the ball into the goal over defender Minnert and goalkeeper Rottenberg.
Germany was able to use a moment of confusion in the norwegian defense for the 1-1. Ball was passed to Kerstin Garefrekes on the right side, nice flank in front of the goal and Martina Müller headed it into the net. Passive offside by a german player on the pass before.
Germany was playing with Birgit Prinz on the left side instead of as centre forward and she was having problems making an impression thanks to great defensive work by Marianne Paulsen.
A lot of sloppy defensive work by the Germans and nearly no combining from midfield to attack. In the second half Germany also lost Bettina Wiegmann with muscle problems.
Norway also controlling the second half. Second norwegian goal resulted from a german player losing the ball in the midfield, counter attack by Norway, Silke Rottenberg was making a mistake by coming out of the goal and missing the ball and so Anita Rapp was able to net the ball.
Germany was able to get the draw three minutes before the end when Ingvild Stensland, who imo was a weakness to the norwegian defense, took down Kerstin Garefrekes on the outer penalty area and Linda Bresonik could net the penalty. I’m trying to be objective, so I have to admit that you didn’t had to give that penalty because she started pushing before the penalty area, it was no bad foul and Kerstin Garefrekes was willing enough to fall in the area but it was not pretty smart defensive work.
In my opinion Hege Riise and Marianne Paulsen best on Team Norway, Kerstin Garefrekes and Martina Müller leaving a positive impression on the german team.