Norway, China star as women’s soccer kicks off Games
Hosts China, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign on a winning note by beating Sweden 2-1.
Norway’s Leni Larsen Kaurin scored the fastest opening goal in the history of women’s Olympic football, now into its fourth Games, when she headed home after the first minute against the United States.
Melissa Wiik slammed home the second goal two minutes later in an opening blitz from which the United States never recovered in their Group G match in Qinhuangdao on China’s eastern coast.
Although a third goal proved elusive, Norway’s trio of Solveig Gulbrandsen, Melissa Wiik and Leni Larsen Kaurin ensured they dominated on attack.
It was only the second time the United States have lost an Olympic match after winning gold in Atlanta and Athens and losing the 2000 final in Sydney — again to Norway who are now in the box seat to win their pool here.
For Norway it was sweet revenge after they were beaten by the United States a year ago in the play-off for third at the World Cup.
But the pressure is on the United States to rectify their error-ridden performance in their remaining pool matches against Japan and New Zealand who opened their tournament with a 2-2 draw.
At Shenyang in the northeast of the country, tournament heavyweights Germany and Brazil cancelled each other out in a match of contrasting styles — Brazil relying on pace and flare to Germany’s patient clinical approach.
In a rematch from last year’s World Cup final, which Germany won 2-0, rival goalkeepers Andreia of Brazil and Germany’s Nadine Angerer both proved unbeatable in the face of constant pressure.
In their fast-paced Group F match, Marta and Cristiane peppered the German goal with veteran Birgit Prinz and Kerstin Garefrekes replying for Germany, the shots becoming more desperate as the game progressed but not succeeding.
Both should still qualify for the play-offs with North Korea staking a claim for the third berth when they beat Nigeria 1-0.
China and Canada were the two winners from Group E, being played in Tianjin, north of Beijing.
China beat Sweden 2-1 and Canada beat Argentina by the same score.—AFP