Austria 1 Norway 0

Women's Euro 2022, Group Stages Match Day Three, Group A, Friday 15th July

I was down on the South Coast again for another Women's Euro 2022 encounter, and a first half header from Nicole Billa proved enough for Austria to defeat Norway at The Amex in Brighton to qualify for the Quarter Finals.

The equation was simple, Austria would qualify in second spot if they avoided defeat, whereas Norway knew a win for themselves would see they nick second spot and a quarter final berth instead, but how would the Nordic country be feeling after that 8-0 demolition at the hands of England in their previous Group A encounter?

Austria on the other hand had run England close in the opening game and then defeated the Northern Irish leading into this one, so they would have been in a much better mindset, and it seemed this way early on as the Austrians dominated the opening forty five minutes as a nervy looking Norway failed to settle.

They almost gave away an early penalty when Billa went to ground under the challenge of Guro Bergsvand and Julie Blakstad, and then Guro Pettersen, the Norwegian keeper, fumbled a Laura Feiersinger effort onto the crossbar moments later as Austria could sense their opponents vulnerability.

Pettersen managed to redeem herself when making a fine one handed save from Billa, but with eight minutes of the half remaining Billa managed to beat the Norwegian stopper when a lovely ball into the box by Verena Hanshaw saw Billa rise to glance a header beyond Pettersen into the far corner and hand Austria a more than deserved lead.

Could Norway find something in the second half? It had been a rather lifeless performance in a game of such importance, but despite having more possession it was their opponents who were carving out the better chances, but Pettersen was equal to efforts from Barbara Dunst, Billa and Feiersinger, before she had to deflect a Lisa Makas close range effort just wide of the near post.

A second goal would have sealed the Austrians Quarter Final berth for sure, but at 1-0 Norway knew a goal back could set up a grandstand finish, and they committed bodies forward in the latter stages and finally registered a first shot on target a minute from time when Manuela Zinsberger, who had pretty much had nothing to do in the Austrian goal, tipped a Celin Ildhusoy shot onto the crossbar.

And Ada Hegerberg, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner and who had returned to the international fold after a self imposed five year exile, almost snatched a late equaliser in added time, only to see Zinsberger make a fine close range stop to deny her, and it meant Austria would go through in second with a second win and second clean sheet in succession.

Austria then go through to face Germany in the Last Eight, a terrific achievement for them, whilst for Norway their will surely be a post mortem into what went wrong at these finals, many had them tipped as dark horses for the tournament, but another lifeless display in this one capped an awful showing at these finals and the 2013 finalists go out.

Finally a word on what was another enjoyable night at a Women's Euro 2022 encounter, a fantastic atmosphere once again and over 12,000 in attendance, superb to see and not a hint of trouble, this is how football should be quite frankly.

Full time Austria 1 Norway 0