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Norway Upset China by 2-1Norway upset China by 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the semifinal of the women's football tournament at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.The Chinese women's soccer team was a strong favorite to win the Olympic gold medal, however most of the team members were not in good form.  Both sides had first half chances but excellent work by both goalkeepers ensured the match remained scoreless after 45 minutes. In the 55th minute Norway broke the deadlock. A cross by Hege Riise allowed Marianne Pettersen to neatly glance her header into the net for Norway. It took 20 minutes for China to equalise. Norway's captain Goeril Kringen handled the ball inside the area and China was awarded a penalty kick. Sun Wen netted to level the scores. Norway's key striker Dagny Mellgren was replaced by midfielder Margunn Haugenes in the second half, and the substitution paid off for the Scandinavians.  Haugenes
scored the winning goal for Norway, curling a delicate chip into the top
right hand corner in the 78th minute. China applied pressure in the last
15 minutes but was unable to break the Norwegian defence. An opportunist
strike from substitute Margunn Haugenes sealed the victory for the Norwegians.
Haugenes' curling shot into the top corner of Gao Hong's goal in the 78th
minute clinched the win for Norway. The result means the United States finishes top of the group, while Norway goes through as group runner-up. They join Germany and Brazil in the semifinal stages. The semifinals will be played on Sunday. Germany will play Norway in the Sydney Football Stadium while the US will play Brazil in Bruce Stadium, Canberra. |
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