Norway vs. England: Score, Twitter Reaction from 2015 Women’s Soccer World … – Bleacher Report

Lucy Bronze was pure gold for England on Monday night.

The English defender sent her side to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup with a brilliant game-winning goal in the 76th minute, sending England past Norway, 2-1. It marks the first time England has ever won a game at the Women’s World Cup past the group stage, a fact that wasn’t lost on manager Mark Sampson, per Louise Taylor of the Guardian:

The team have made history. The team deserve all the credit in the world. They knew this was a big game for them, they wanted to put their names in English football history and the squad have stepped up and delivered for the country. We’ve seen in the tournament if you concede the first goal it’s incredibly difficult to win the game. This group of 23 players have shown brilliant resilience, fantastic character and excellent game discipline to come back and win that match. We’ll take huge confidence from this victory.

Awaiting the English will be host country Canada in the next round on Saturday, June 27, in Vancouver.

Norway appeared to be the stronger side for much of the match, controlling 51 percent of the possession, outshooting the English, 14-12 (5-3 on goal), and earning eight corners to England’s seven, per FIFA.com. 

The Norwegians controlled the pace of play and stretched the English defense with a number of through balls and clever runs. They couldn’t find the moment of magic to put them ahead in the first 45, however.

That would change early in the second half. Solveig Gulbrandsen gave the Norwegians the lead in the 54th minute, as her glancing header off the corner kick beat ‘keeper Karen Bardsley and just snuck its way inside the goal line off the top crossbar. 

The English would respond with a goal off a corner themselves, though, when Stephanie Houghton played a breathtaking header across the face of goal as her momentum took her the opposite way, beating both the ‘keeper and the player stationed on the post.

That seemed to reinvigorate England’s confidence, and Bronze’s wonder strike followed 15 minutes later. After a clever bit of possession by England just outside of the Norwegian box, Jodie Taylor found Bronze with room to shoot. The defender ripped an absolute screamer to the near post that ‘keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth managed to get a hand on but couldn’t push clear of the net.

Sky Sports Women tweeted the majestic goal:

WHAT A GOAL:

Lucy Bronze for #ENG

https://t.co/BPvFs4MVvz

— Sky Sports Women (@SkySportsWomen) June 22, 2015

It was certainly a dramatic turn of events, as AS English noted:

Just after the Norwegian goal it looked like England might be routed… how it turned around.

— AS English (@English_AS) June 22, 2015

Oliver Kay of the Times thought two players in particular sparked the comeback:

Thoroughly enjoyed that 2nd half. Norway 1 England 2. Subs Taylor & Scott transformed #ENG, who now face Canada in quarter-final. #WWC2015

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) June 22, 2015

And the team’s resolve impressed Jonathan Northcroft of the Sunday Times:

A captain’s goal, then a stunner. Great substitutions. Real unity. Some comeback. When did an England team last do that in a knockout game?

— Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) June 22, 2015

For an English population accustomed to letdowns from its national teams—and for a country that hasn’t always taken the women’s game as seriously as the men’s—Monday’s result was huge, as Roger Bennett of the Men in Blazers noted:

Unfamiliar feelings after watching England World Cup game: Joy and Hope it’ll be massive boost for profile of women’s game in Great Britain

— roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 22, 2015

For Norway, the result has to be crushing. The team looked to be in control for much of the match and was essentially beaten by two moments of pure class by England. The Norwegians lost, but they certainly didn’t play poorly.

That’s the nature of soccer. Some days, the ball just doesn’t bounce your way. It certainly bounced the way England wanted, however, setting up an intriguing matchup with Canada. The two teams appear to be pretty evenly matched, though knocking off the Canadians in front of the home crowd will be no easy task.

Bronze and Co. will need to produce a few more golden moments, in other words.