France go back in front from a Le Sommer penalty, which was awarded through VAR. France 2-1 Norway. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/gaHdsvcD0A
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 12, 2019
EUGENIE LE SOMMER’S controversial penalty spared Wendie Renard’s blushes after a calamitous own goal, as Women’s World Cup hosts France beat Norway 2-1 to effectively seal a spot in the knockout phase.
The entertaining contest was unsurprisingly even after the two sides cruised to wins in their respective opening matches, but France just about did enough to leave themselves on the brink of qualification, with Le Sommer’s crucial spot kick the difference.
Although the host nation struggled at times in the first half, they rode the Norway storm and took full advantage right after half-time through the lively Valerie Gauvin.
Renard put into her own net soon after, but France remained focused and Le Sommer coolly dispatched a penalty, though Norway were convinced they were harshly penalised after the spot-kick was awarded following a VAR review.
Norway enjoyed a purposeful start and went desperately close in the 14th minute, but Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s near-post flick-on at a corner was crucially cleared off the line and over the crossbar by Amel Majri.
France responded and almost found the net through Gauvin soon after, but her back-heel from Kadidiatou Diani did not have enough power to beat Ingrid Hjelmseth.
Gauvin gets the opening goal of the game just moments after the start of the second half to give France the lead. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/UNV6bipiyU
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 12, 2019
Norway finished the half strongest, with Sarah Bouhaddi making a save to deny Ingrid Moe Wold, but France opened the scoring less than a minute after the interval – Gauvin meeting Majri’s left-wing cross and firing beneath Hjelmseth.
A calamitous own goal courtesy of Renard eight minutes later wiped out the lead, however, as the Lyon star tapped into her own net from Isabell Herlovsen’s low cross.
Nightmare for Renard who taps the ball into her own net. France 1-1 Norway #rtesoccer. pic.twitter.com/5yP9LyRBDO
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 12, 2019
But Le Sommer bailed her out 18 minutes from time after Engen was adjudged to have followed through on Marion Torrent, the converted penalty leaving France with six points from two games, almost certainly enough to see them into the next round.
'A soft penalty'....'she's nearly taken her kneecap off' - The studio panel was divided over the VAR call that led to a France penalty. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/f0aHXqIp14
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 12, 2019
Was it a penalty?
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#4 is madness (if Ive read it right), a team that doesnt get to the Ulster final (eg Armagh lets say) will have a knock out game against (randomly) either a Dublin/Kerry etc or a Clare/Westmeath.. The provincial championships are too unbalanced to be the basis of any seeding
A definite no on the first one. The others might be interesting, though unlikely to see every club introduce an underage hurling team.
@Ian Cunningham: Me thinks number one a great idea. Watching underage players now when they get onto a divisional never mind county panel, think they don’t have to show up for club games. Club ought to always come first for players, unfortunately though, there’s no money for the association incoming from club games, it’s inter county that generates that, alas this motion be turned down
@Jed Ward: Cork have enough injury concerns without having to worry about fellas playing meaningless RedFM League matches. If it was county championship matches maybe. That’s what the split season is for.
@Jed Ward: . The demands on inter county players at both underage and senior level are huge. Younger inter county players between the ages of 19 and 22 have in many cases the very significant additional demands of university competitions to cope with. A balance has to be struck. These huge demands are leading to soft tissue injuries. Additional demands being placed on this group of players are highly questionable.
@Richard Ford: as you say “the demands” on amateur players. There is actually no need to elaborate on this. The top brass don’t give a fiddle about “the demands” on players, players are just a commodity for their chunky pay packets and Croke Park
Would love to see football format returned to lose a game and you’re out of provincial championship. Four province winners go to all Ireland semi final and winners of that game onto final. Then again, it’s all about the money, so not a hope of ever seeing that format again in either code
@Jed Ward: given the commitment and training that players put in these days, you can’t have fellas knocked out after one game.
@Jed Ward: Catch yourself on. That format is outdated and way past its sell by date.
@Richard Ford: all about the money money money,
@Ian it’s taking to absolute Michael out of players who are amateur with all the training and commitment they put in. Again it’s all about the money money money. The Grab All Airgead association.
@Jed Ward: OK, you’re one of them. A GAA hater, who knows nothing about the GAA, but has a smart nickname.
@Ian Cunningham: 100% correct there Ian. Actually I’m an ex county player, now coaching an underage level and vice chairman with my juvenile club.
@Jed Ward: what a crock of … .