THUN, SWITZERLAND(SMI-GLOBAL-WOMEN-SPORTS-JULY 02-27, 2025)-FIFA ranked #16, Norway Women's national team and #14, Iceland, collided in a Scandinavian showdown with the Grasshoppers (Norway) defeating Iceland 4-3, to finish first in group A, with 9-points and advancing to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, in Stockhorn Arena, in Thun, Switzerland.

The Norwegians Swiss outperformed the Norwegians in the game-stats 61%-39% in possession, 15-10 shots on goal & 7-5, shots on target to finish the group A, competition undefeated with 3-victories.

Iceland scored first on its first major counter-attack through the right-side field, forward Cecilie Fiskerstrand on a fast-break passed the ball to midfielder Katla Tryggvadóttir inside the 18' who shot a right-footed towards goal but it was saved and deflected onto the field to Jónsdóttir who kicked to goal on a rebound but it deflected out of bounce for corner kick.

One minute later, Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir sent a corner-kick inside the penalty box finding midfielder Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir, who with a header aimed to goal, but it was saved by goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand back onto the field to Cecilie Fiskerstrand and who scored on a rebound with a left-footed to put the Icelanders 1-0, at 6' mark.

Norway answered with the equalizer eight-minute later, when midfielder Vilde Bøe Risa centered the ball inside the 18', through a corner-kick, finding midfielder Signe Gaupset who scored with a right-footed volley to the far right-goal post to tie the game 1-1, at 15' mark.

Ten-minute later, Icelander's Sædís Rún Heiðarsdóttir tried to clear the ball but it was intercepted by Vilde Bøe Risa and gave it to Signe Gaupset who shot a left-footed canon to the left-side goalpost from 25-yards away ending in back of net for her second goal of the game and put Norway in front 2-1, at 25' mark.

In the first counter-attack of the second half for Norway, midfielder Frida Maanum on fast break through the middle passed the ball to midfielder Signe Gaupset who was inside the 18, back to Maanum and shot a left-footed to the far-goalpost to make it 3-1, in favor of Norway over Iceland at 49' mark. 

Iceland and Norway traded counter-attacks for the next 24' minute until Frida Maanum scored her second goal of the game whe she received a pass through the right-side field by Signe Gaupset, and found the back of net with a rolling left-footed
ending in back of the net to increase the lead for Norway 4-1, at 76' mark.

Iceland fought back to the end scoring 2-goals in the last 10' of the game to cut the deficit 4-3, but time ran-out with the game ending with 4-3, victory for Norway
over Icelanders.

Forward Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir ran with the ball inside the 18' , on a fast-break through the right-side field evaded 3-defenders and passed it to Hlin Eiríksdóttir who scored with right-footed to the upper right-corner to make it 4-2, at 86' and in stoppage time 90+5', defender Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir scored through a penalty kick to closed-out the game 4-3, for the Norwegians. 


With the win, Norway finished first with 9-points in Group A, and advance to quarterfinals to face Italy on Wed. July 16, at Stade de Genève, in Geneva, Switzerland.


Article Written by Starlight Illustrated Staff & Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated