In the run-up to this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, the women’s national football (soccer) teams of Norway and Sweden met for a friendly match. The Swedes beat the Norwegians 2-0 in a much-needed confidence booster before the August Olympics.
Both teams lost matches to the United States, which is ranked second in the world behind Germany. The US, who are the defending Olympic champions, beat Norway 4-0 and Sweden 1-0 in their respective countries.
With Sweden currently ranked third in the world and Norway ranked fourth, the game looked to be an evenly-contested match. Sweden’s Lotta Schelin scored the first goal in the 26th minute by outmaneuvering Norway’s captain Ane Hangeland Horpestad and then beating the goalkeeper. Jessica Landstrome finished the game off with a 90th-minute strike on the counterattack.
Sweden has been placed in Group E for the Olympics along with China, Canada and Argentina. Norway, who won the Olympics in 2000, is in Group G along with the United States, New Zealand and Japan.