Smith, New Zealand Fall, 1-0, To Norway In Olympic Games

QINHUANGDAO, CHINA. ? Former Duke standout Rebecca Smith and the New Zealand women's soccer team fell, 1-0, to Norway in Qinhuangdao, China on Saturday, which has left the Ferns needing to defeat the world's best team, the United States, to progress to the quarter-finals of their first Olympic Games.

An eighth minute goal from Melissa Wiik proved the difference for the now-qualified Norwegians with New Zealand and USA battling to join them in the next round.

Adding to her fourth-minute strike against the USA on Wednesday, Wiik's near post run was near perfect and her header to meet Leni Laursen Kaurin's cross left Jenny Bindon no chance in the New Zealand goal.

In matching the world number five stride-for-stride, and earning the lion share of possession, the Ferns proved an opening draw against Japan was no fluke and that their goal of progressing out of their group was still well within reach.

With Athens gold medallists and world number one USA winning 1-0 over Japan in the group's earlier fixture to move into second place, New Zealand now face a Shenyang showdown against the Americans on Tuesday for a place in the knockout stages.

Despite the early setback, the Ferns responded strongly and were almost on level terms after 14 minutes when Kirsty Yallop went agonizingly with a diving header at the back post sailed over the bar.

Both defenses stood firm ? with Jenny Bindon only called on to make one sharp first half save from Kaurin in a relatively quiet night ? as each team restricted the other to just two shots on goal throughout ninety minutes.

The game was increasingly became a battle of the two midfields, which the New Zealand quartet won on points led by the tireless Katie Hoyle.

New Zealand spent most of the second spell in the Norwegian half and earned a succession of corners and attacking free kicks but a defensive master class from the Scandinavians restricted New Zealand to just one real shot ? a long range bullet from Smith that traveled just wide. For the second straight contest, Smith played the entire 90 minutes on the defensive end for New Zealand.

New Zealand's best foray's came through Ali Riley but Norwegian fullback Gunhild Folsted never allowed the Stanford University winger onto her favoured right foot to deliver a killer ball. New Zealand kept pressing but the Norwegian defense met every cross and every through ball in a tense final 10 minutes, hanging on to seal their place in the knock-out stages.

Women's Olympic Football Tournament: Group G

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium
Saturday 9 August
New Zealand 0 Norway 1 (Melissa Wiik 8)

New Zealand: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 5-Abby ERCEG, 6-Rebecca SMITH, 17-Marlies OOSTDAM (3-Anna GREEN 64), 7-Alexandra RILEY, 8-Hayley MOORWOOD, 4-Katie HOYLE, 11-Kirsty YALLOP, 9-Amber HEARN (13-Rebecca TEGG 82), 15-Emma KETE (16-Renee LEOTA 88).
Substitutes not used: 10-Emily McCOLL, 12-Merissa SMITH, 14-Kristy HILL, 18-Rachel HOWARD (GK).
Coach: John HERDMAN

Norway: 1-Erika SKARBO (GK), 2-Ane STANGELAND HORPESTAD, 3-Gunhild FOLSTAD, 4-Ingvild STENSLAND, 5-Siri NORDBY, 6-Marie KNUTSEN, 8-Solveig GULBRANDSEN (9-Isabell HERLOVSEN 66), 10-Melissa WIIK, 11-Leni LARSEN KAURIN (14-Guro KNUTSEN 59), 12-Marit FIANE CHRISTENSEN, 13-Lene STORLOKKEN (6-Elise THORSNES 59).
Substitutes not used: 7-Trine RONNING, 15-Marita SKAMMELSRUD LUND, 17-Lene MYKJALAND, 18-Christine NILSEN (GK).
Coach: Bjarne BERNSTEN

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Smith, New Zealand Fall, 1-0, To Norway In Olympic Games

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