Womens 2007 World Cup; match 21

Group C, 19/9/07 in Shanghai.

Ghana v. Norway

Ghana: G.Enti (M.Sulemana 64), Y.Avoe, A.Ibrahim, O.Amoako, M.Danso, D.Awuah (M.Darku 58), F.Okoe, A.Bayor, R.Tahiru, A.Amenuku (S.Okai 45), A.Amankwa.

Norway: B.Nordby, S.Nordby, A.Stangeland, M.Christensen, C.Huse, L.Storlokken, I.Stensland, S.Gulbrandsen (I.Herlovsen 45), L.Larsen (L.Klaveness 61), L.Mykjaland (M.Giske 45), R.Gulbrandsen.

This was a thrashing waiting to happen for Ghana who had refused to really take defending seriously throughout this group stage. A strong, organised Norway side was always likely to punish them.

Ghana had decided to change their goalkeeper for this game and there was little reason to believe Gladys Enti would be an improvement on Memunatu Sulemana who had performed reasonably well behind a ragged defence in the first two games.

Such fears were not long in being confirmed. Enti came with her feet for a ball she should have gathered easily with her hands and when Solveig Gulbrandsen tried to chip her she tipped the ball over the bar in ridiculously flamboyant fashion.

From the resulting corner Gulbrandsen headed back across goal for Lene Storlokken, totally unmarked five yards out, to lash home.

Ghana produced some good moments going forward and one splendid move gave Anita Amankwa a decent shooting chance but the forward panicked and completely missed her kick.

It was almost amazing that Ghana held out until the 39th minute before conceding again and when they did it was in slightly unfortunate fashion.

The Ghana defence pushed right up to the halfway line leaving almost half the Norwegian team offside as a long ball was played forward but Siri Nordby, breaking from inside her own half, was allowed to continue and squared for Ragnhild Gulbrandsen, now deemed onside again, to slot home.

Before half time Norway had a third as Yaa Avoe more or less sat on Storlokken inside the penalty area and Ane Stangeland smacked in a perfect spot kick.

Three goals in seven minutes around the hour mark saw Norway sweep into a six goal lead against more hapless defending.

Ragnhild Gulbrandsen played in Isabell Herlovsen who was allowed to carry the ball right up to the six yard box before shooting home, Enti still preferring to stay on her line.

Gulbrandsen then helped herself to two more goals to complete her hat trick.

Leni Larsen set her up for the first after Enti had come for a cross and messed up and then she glanced in an Ingvild Stensland free kick at the near post with the entire Ghana defence standing watching.

This was enough for Enti who was replaced by Sulemana and it was not long before she was fishing the seventh Norwegian goal out of her net. Lise Klaveness was the scorer of this one, turning home Storlokken's cross from three yards out.

Over twenty minutes remained but the two further goals to be scored both went to Ghana.

Anita Amankwa won a very dubious free kick on the edge of the box that was brilliantly converted by Adjoa Bayor.

Bayor stood directly behind the ball with her back to goal as a colleague shaped to shoot but as the apparent taker began her run up Bayor suddenly stepped onto the ball and clipped a superb shot over the wall and into the corner in one movement.

No time for the wall or the goalkeeper to react. Magnificent.

Then Amankwa won a penalty that was converted in fine style by Florence Okoe.

Some consolation then for the Ghanians but without seriously addressing their defending they will continue to suffer at events like this.

Full Time: Ghana 2 Norway 7