Norway edge Equatorial Guinea

AUGSBURG (AFP) - The 1995 champions Norway survived a battle with debutantes Equatorial Guinea in Group D action at the Women's World Cup here on Wednesday, winning 1-0 thanks to Emelie Haavi's late goal. The back-and-forth encounter saw Norway hit the woodwork on three occasions before Haavi's match winner in the 84th minute. The 2000 Olympic champions Norway have three points in Group D while Equatorial Guinea are empty handed despite a strong showing. Equatorial Guinea's next game is against Australia on July 3 in Bochum while Norway face Brazil in Wolfsburg. Brazil were playing Australia later Wednesday in Moenchengladbach. "I had a feeling it would be a tough game. The main thing is that was have three points. And now we can focus on getting three more points," said Norway coach Eli Landsem. "We had a lot of chances and actually we were hoping to score even more goals." Guinean handler Marcello Frigerio said he could see his side getting something out of their remaining two group matches on the evidence of what he saw against Norway. "Guinea is an entirely new participant and an entirely new adventure," he said. "It would have been a great success for Equatorial Guinea. We could have beaten Norway and we will have our chances against the other teams too," he added. In front of 12,928 spectators at the FIFA Women's World Cup Stadium in Augsburg, the Norwegians just missed grabbing the lead in the second minute as a clearance by the Africans landed at Haavi, but the midfielder blasted her shot off the far left upright. Equatorial Guinea needed some time to get into the match and relied on long-range efforts, like Anonman's 40 yard blast and Jurama's attempt from just a bit closer after 17 minutes. The Africans began to dominate and Dulcia was through for a run at keeper and woman of the match Ingrid Hjelmseth but Haavi got in the way in the last second at the 20-minute mark. Hjelmseth faced a barrage of shots - most of them of the longer distance variety - and successfully cleared them all away, though just barely on Anonman's attempt in the 22nd minute. Equatorial Guinea had one final superb chance before the break as Anonman got past Nora Holstad Berge for a dash at Hjelmseth, but the keeper won the encounter in stoppage time. Both coaches made one substitution at half-time with Laetitia replacing Christelle for Frigerio's side and Lene Mykjaland coming on for Giske. Norway had the better run of play early in the second half and Herlovsen shot wide after a pass from Elise Thorsnes in the 52nd minute. A minute later, Equatorial Guinea made another substitution with Chinasa entering for Jumaria. Anonman continued her excellent match, getting past one defender and racing past three more before chipping a shot that went just wide of the far right post after 53 minutes. The back-and-forth went on as Norway hit the outside of the right post on Mykjaland's shot in the 55th minute. The Norwegians could only find the framework again two minutes later with Herlovsen hitting the left post and the ball was pushed out in a scramble at the same post. Norway finally broke through - and Haavi finally got her goal - in the 84th minute. Leni Larsen Kaurin crossed from the right side to Haavi, who struck into the upper netting from left of goal for the Norwegians.