Few people in Norwegian football gave Team Strommen much of a chance against Roa in this year's Norway Cup finals. But, Strommen created the better chances and with stronger finishing should have won this 1 - 0 match,

 

It was Team Strømmen, reinforced by a fit Una Nwajei, who looked more dangerous at first.  After a quarter of an hour the former Fulham striker came up to the by-line and got off a cross. Coming up hard in front of goal was Rhian Wilkinson, but she was under pressure and could not get a foot to the ball. "That chance will haunt me for a long time.  We were good today and could have won," said the Canadian forward.

 

As the first half wore down, Roa became more active. The only goal came 8 minutes before half time, when Røa's Elise Thorsnes received the ball two or three yards outside the penalty area. She unleashed a hard 20 metre shot that  went in off the post. "I thought only of firing a shot off and hoped for the best", said Thorsnes after the match.

In the second half, Team Strømmen raised their game. They had more chances with the ball and played at tremendous pace. Team Strommen were on the attack, and it appeared that Diana Matheson had scored after 81 minutes. Unfortunately for Team Strommen, it was ruled offside.  The TV pictures show that Diana Matheson was not offside and that Team Strømmen should have had an equalizer, but this is cold comfort.

 

At 85 minutes, Rhian had to leave the field with a sprained ankle, and was replced by Martia Kaufman. Then, minutes away from overtime Marita Skammelsrud Lund had an opportunity to equalize, but as she went in alone on the goalie, she shot wide.

 

So once again, Røa take the Cup in 2009, just as they did last year.

Diana Matheson was named the player of the match.

 

And, the importance of this event in Norway may be gauged by the comparison made by a Norwegian fan with English soccer. " Just compare Norway with the UK to see how much further ahead women's football is in Scandinavia. Imagine the England women's FA cup final being played in London in front of a pro-rata crowd of 80,000 with the Queen and the Prime Minister in the stadium.  That is what happened in Norway this weekend."

 

As well as the Norwegian King and queen, in the crowd were Hege Riise, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Eli Landsem, Melissa Wiik and Peter Kovacs. Now Rhian and Diana pack their bags for the long flight to Florida and training camp with the Canada National Women's team.

 

Team Strømmen:
Ingrid Bruserud - Dorte Dalum Jensen, Marita Skammelsrud Lund, Anne Myren Stenstvedt, Marit Sandvei - Mari Knudsen, Nasra Abdullah, Lene Storløkken - Diana Matheson, Una Nwajei, Rhian Wilkinson.

Reserves: Bente Nordby, Ingrid Moe Wold, Eli Gulbrandsen, Connie Johanson, Marita Kaufmann, Cathrine Dekkerhus.

 

Referee: Vibeke Karlsen, SF Grei.