Vengeful Norway halt Sweden run

Sweden 0-1 Norway
A second-half goal from Isabell Herlovsen dealt Sweden their first defeat in 2009, as Norway avenged their 5-1 defeat earlier in the year and signed off their build-up to the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ on a positive note.

Possession conceded
The only goal came in the 57th minute and started with a Swedish throw-in in the Norwegian half. Therese Sjögran sent the ball back towards central defender Charlotte Rohlin but it was intercepted by Herlovsen on the halfway line and she broke, curling a low shot low into Hedvig Lindahl's goal from the edge of the Swedish penalty area.

Sjögran chances
By that time, the home side's energy had waned after a positive start. In the third minute, Sjögran advanced from the left and sent in a shot that went just wide. Kosovare Asllani was posing a menace on the opposite flank too but the Swedish dominance soon faded and by the second half, Norway were firmly in control.

Bar struck
Herlovsen broke the deadlock and Sweden had no answer, and the Norway striker almost doubled the advantage when she rattled the crossbar with a powerful volley from the edge of the area. "Of course I'm disappointed," said Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby after the final whistle. "But I'm not worried as sooner or later you get a dip – it's a good thing it came now. It was a good wake-up call for us, reminding us we need to get back to basics.

Sweden: Lindahl; Paulson, S Larsson (Segerström 46), Rohlin, Thunebro; Caroline Seger (P Larsson 81), Asllani (Lindén 74), Svensson (Dahlkvist 66), Sjögran (Fors 82); Schelin, Landström (Liljegärd 64).

Norway: Hjelmseth; Akerhaugen, Rønning, Mjelde, Huse; Gulbrandsen (Isaksen 64), Stensland, Storløkken (Giske 78), Wiik (Sandvei 77); Herlovsen (Lie 83), Thorsnes (Pedersen 64).