Canada Earns Impressive Draw With Norway

Toronto, Ontario – Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team posted a 2-2 draw with Norway, the defending Olympic Gold Medallists in front of 4,625 happy fans at Centennial Stadium in Toronto, Wednesday.
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​Andrea Neil opened the scoring for the Canadians in the ninth minute when gathered the ball just inside the 18 and beat Norwegian goalkeeper Astrid Johannessen with a hard low shot. Fifteen minutes later she suffered a contusion to her left foot and was substituted by Oakville’s Kara Lang.
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​Norway equalized minutes before the halftime whistle when Hege Riise found Anita Rapp open down the left side. Rapp sent in a low cross, which Dagny Mellgren managed to get a foot to and redirect past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod. The teams went into the dressing rooms with Canada enjoying a 9-1 advantage on corner kicks.
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​In the 66th minute, Canada’s all-time leading goal scoring leader Charmaine Hooper added to her tally. Christine Sinclair won a header and the ball fell to Hooper who made a great turn and drilled a low left-footer past Johannessen and inside the far post.
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​Canada hung on to their lead until the 88th minute when Norway’s Trine Ronning scored off a deflection by defender Isabelle Morneau.
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​It was Canada’s first draw against Norway after five losses.
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​Canadian referee Sonia Denoncourt did not issue a caution or an ejection in the game.
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​Wednesday, July 17, 2002 – International friendly
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​Canada 2 (1)
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​Norway 2 (1)
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​Goals: Canada: Andrea Neil (9), Charmaine Hooper (66); Norway: Dagny Mellgren (42), Trine Ronning (88)
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​Referee: Sonia Denoncourt
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​Canada: Erin McLeod, Sasha Andrews, Breanna Boyd, Sharolta Nonen, Isabelle Morneau, Andrea Neil (Kara Lang, 25), Christine Sinclair, Carmelina Moscato (Clare Rustad, 81), Charmaine Hooper, Silvana Burtini, Candace Chapman. Head coach Even Pellerud
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​Norway: Astrid Johannesen, Bente Kvitland, Brit Sandaune (Ingrid Fosse Saethre, 83), Ane Stangeland, Anne Tonnessen, Monica Knudsen (Kristin Rand Edner, 46), Unni Lehn (Kristin Blystad Bjerke, 77), Dagny Mellgren, Anita Rapp, Hege Riise, Linda Ormen (Trine Ronning, 46).
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​For more information please contact:
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​Morgan Quarry (613) 237-7678 ext.: 230 or media@soccercan.ca
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​Or visit our web site: migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io
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