Norway 3 Nigeria 0: Guro Reiten inspires emphatic victory

Norway will take on hosts France in a mouth-watering clash next at the Women's World Cup after comfortably dispatching Nigeria.

Guro Reiten (16) is congratulated by her team-mates after she scored a goal in the Women's World Cup contest in Reims. Photo: AFP

Guro Reiten scored one and assisted another as Norway romped to a 3-0 victory over Nigeria at the Women's World Cup.

Even without star player Ada Hegerberg, Norway — world champion in 1995 — cruised to victory on Saturday in Reims against a team which has never made it out of the group stage. Strikes from Reiten and Lisa-Marie Utland, followed by an own goal from Osinachi Ohale, had Martin Sjogren's women three goals up inside 37 minutes.

The win for Norway sets up a highly anticipated Group A clash against tournament host France, which

thrashed South Korea in the opening game .

 

Norway moved ahead after 17 minutes, with a short corner catching out Nigeria and Caroline Graham Hansen weaving in from the right before finding Reiten, whose effort deflected into the net off the arm of defender Onome Ebi.

Two goals in the space of 186 first-half seconds ended the game as a contest.

First, in the 34th minute, Utland's strike got past a poor attempt to save by goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi and went in off the crossbar, the striker having been found by a Reiten throughball.

 

Mistakes from Oluehi and Ebi after what should have been a routine goal-kick then led to the third goal, with Isabell Herlovsen's right-wing cross diverted into her own net by Ohale.

Nigeria lost Faith Michael to injury early in the second half, the defender having to be stretchered off after landing awkwardly following a collision with her goalkeeper.

Asisat Oshoala burst through on goal but could not convert a late chance, as Thomas Dennerby's side failed to muster a consolation.