A late solo strike by Norway forward Caroline Graham Hansen secured a 2-1 victory against Finland in the Women’s European Championship on Sunday, as the two-time champions secured qualification for the knockout phase.
Norway’s second Group A win put them top of the standings with six points and guarantees a place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Finland, who defeated Iceland in their opening game, remain on three.
“We buzzed our way to three points in one way or another, but that’s what counts in championships. There’s a bit to work with, but we won, it helps,” player of the match Graham Hansen told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Eva Nystrom’s own goal put Norway ahead after three minutes as Graham Hansen’s cross hit the Finland defender and slid cruelly into the net.
The Norwegians were unlucky not to score again when they hit the woodwork twice within a minute, Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s close-range header striking the crossbar before Finland goalkeeper Anna Koivunen tipped Vilde Boe Risa’s corner onto the post.
Finland equalised in the 32nd minute when midfielder Oona Siren found forward Oona Sevenius with a precise through ball. Sevenius hammered a left-foot shot into the top right corner to score her first international goal for over a year.
Graham Hansen then stepped up to seal the win in the 84th minute, fooling two defenders with quick feet as she drifted in from the right and rifled a shot in off the far post.
Finland face Switzerland on Thursday when Norway play Iceland to conclude Group A.
Switzerland beat Iceland to stay alive
Switzerland’s Alayah Pilgrim (right) celebrates with team-mate Sydney Schertenleib
Switzerland kept alive their hopes of reaching the group stages of Euro 2025 with a 2-0 win over Iceland – a result that confirmed Norway as group winners.
Geraldine Reuteler broke the deadlock 14 minutes from time and Ayalah Pilgrim added a fine second to send Iceland home as Switzerland recorded their first win at a European finals since they beat the same opposition 2-1 at Euro 2017.
Iceland had gone close inside the opening minute when Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir struck the crossbar, but the host nation dominated for most of the game and finished as deserving winners.
They thought they had a first-half opener when Svenja Folmli’s header was diverted in by Glodis Viggosdottir from a corner, but referee Marta Huerta De Aza was sent to the screens and disallowed it as Folmli had barged Karolina Vilhjalmsdottir out of the way.