Women's World Cup, South Korea 1 Norway 2: Penalty double sends Sjogren's side through

Caroline Graham Hansen and Isabell Herlovsen scored from the penalty spot to earn Norway a 2-1 win over South Korea in Reims.

Caroline Graham Hansen and Isabell Herlovsen scored from the penalty spot to earn Norway a 2-1 win over South Korea in Reims.

Norway scored a penalty in each half as it saw off South Korea 2-1 on Monday to finish second in Group A and book a place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup.

With a point being enough to send Norway through, it made a fast start in Reims as Caroline Graham Hansen scored the earliest spot-kick in the competition's history after four minutes and 33 seconds.

Martin Sjogren's side, beaten 2-1 by tournament host France last time out following a 3-0 win over Nigeria in its opener, added another early in the second half through Isabell Herlovsen's penalty.

Despite pulling one back through Yeo Min-ji 12 minutes from time, there was to be no late twist as South Korea exited the competition without a point from its three round-robin fixtures.

 

The Asian nation's heaviest defeat in this competition came against Norway in 2003 when losing 7-1 and it was behind inside five minutes on this occasion.

Maria Thorisdottir was dragged down by Cho So-hyun and Hansen sent the first penalty of the game flying past Kim Min-jung.

A good opportunity to level up the match came and went for Yeo two minutes before half-time as she dragged the ball into the side-netting.

And South Korea's failure to create any further clear-cut chances cost them four minutes into the second half as Hansen was felled by Kang Chae-rim and Herlovsen successfully converted, despite Kim getting a hand to the ball.

Following a poor miss from Karina Saevik, Yeo scored a consolation 14 minutes later at the other end with a close-range finish from a smart flick from Lee Geum-min, but it was not enough to stop Norway joining France in the knockout rounds.