Norway's hope of extending their winning streak to be the first team to advance to the quarter-finals at the FIFA Women's World Cup was killed by Australian substitute striker Lisa De Vanna at the last few minutes on Saturday.
The Scandinavians now have four points and as Australia (with 4 points) and Canada (with 3 points) are to face each other in the last round, a draw will send Norway to the last eight.
In form striker Tagnhild Gulbrandsen collected a through pass from midfielder Marie Knutsen and flashed a nice shot in the fifth minute to make a flying start for the Scandinavians.
De Vanna, brought on at the beginning of the second half, smashed home the magic equalizer on 83 minutes from the edge of the area.
The striker could have terminated the match if her 53rd-minute performance was rewarded. She strode forward from the midfield with amazing pace, leaving all the defenders behind before firing a low shot towards the net, only to find it hit the far post.
The 23-year-old forward raised the loudest applause in the additional time when she blitzed past three defenders and drove a small angle shot to be denied by keeper Nordby.
Source: Xinhua
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