Germany own goal lifts Norway into final

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SportsLine.com wire reports
Sept. 24, 2000

SYDNEY, Australia -- A misfortunate own goal by defender Tina Wunderlich sank Germany and allowed Norway to move into the Olmypic women's soccer final with a 1-0 victory Sunday.

In the final, the Norwegians will meet defending champion United States, which beat Brazil 1-0 in Canberra. The Americans defeated Norway 2-0 in the opening round.

Wunderlich headed into her own net in the 80th minute to decide a close game that could have gone either way.

The outcome left the German players in tears, while Norway celebrated, knowing that it was lucky to win.

Sinking to her knees, Wunderlich held her head in her arms for several minutes and only left the field after coach Tina Theune-Meyer came to console her.

Before a sparse crowd at Sydney's Football Ground on a windy evening, the Germans had most of the possession in the first half and the better chances.

Norway was without key defender Gro Espeseth, while the Germans missed midfielder Renate Lingor. Both were suspended.

A free kick in the 23rd minute nearly gave Germany the lead. But Norwegian goalkeeper Bente Nordby stopped the low shot by Sandra Minnert that sailed around the Norwegian wall.

In a scrappy, physical match with little flow and a crowded midfield, there was almost no action in the penalty areas - a disappointing display by two teams among the best in the world.

Norway, which had trounced the Germans 4-1 at a pre-Olympic tournament in Germany, stepped up the pace after the break and created several corner kicks, to no avail.

Some penetrating runs on the flanks on the other side troubled the Norwegian defense, but Germany too was unable to mount a significant threat until the 65th minute.

In the best move to that point, Bettina Wiegmann slipped a clever pass on the right wing behind the Norwegian defense. Minnert raced to the line to send a good cross into the middle of the Norwegian box, but Inka Grings' attempt to first-time her shot failed.

Both teams started attacking in waves with an energy not seen for the first hour.

With 10 minutes to go, disaster struck for Germany after a misunderstanding in its defense. Wunderlich, not seeing goalie Silke Rottenberg coming off the line to catch a harmless cross, headed the ball over the goalkeeper into her net in a clumsy attempt to clear.

Germany did find the net three minutes later, but was called for offside.

Germany was the only team to reach the semifinals with a perfect 3-0 record. Norway rebounded after the opening loss to the United States and qualified by upsetting China.

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