Norway Hammer Ghana 7-2

Hangzou, (China) Sept 20, GNA - Ghana's Black Queens crowned their embarrassing appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup in China with a 2-7 bashing At the hands of Norway in their last Group C game played at the Hangzou Stadium on Thursday.

The Queens conceded three goals before the break and a further four in the second half before skipper Adjoa Bayor and Florence Okoe pulled two face saving goals back.

Coach Isaac Paha's decision to start Gladys Enti in post ahead of number one Meimunatu Sulemana proved disastrous on yet another day that the Queens lacked vision and everything to upset any opponent. Enti who made elementary mistakes, picked the first ball from the net as early as the third minute when Lane Stroklokken sent her flat footed in a goal mouth scramble.

The Norwegians, who by the victory thus lead the group with seven points, controlled the game as they caged the Ghanaian midfield in the process.

Ghana, however, came closest on the 28 minute mark when the skipper Adjoa Bayor tested the victor's goalkeeper Bente Nordby with a long range drive that drove applause from the 54,000 filled Hangzou Dragon Stadium fans that have kept faith with the abysmal Queens. Then came Tahiru Rumanatu's effort eight minutes later. The player gifted from a fine move initiated by Bayor and cooked by Anita Amankwah, but with keeper Nordby well beaten, the debutant squeezed the ball to the side netting to make nonsense of the screams that preceded her effort.

The eventual Most Valuable Player of the match, (MVP) Ragnhild Gulbrandsen who hit a hat trick taught Ghana how to do it with her first for the day when she profited from an offside trap that left the defence rudely exposed.

The third goal was to follow five minutes later with Ane Stangeland Horpestad connecting from the spot kick. Isabell Herlovsen, Gulbrandsen, Lise Klaveness, had their turns to wrap up the demolition exercise of the Queens.

The Queens lost all three matches at the competition in which they are making their third appearance. They lost 1-4 to Australia and 0-4 to Canada in the other group games.

Norway and Australia have thus advanced to the round of eight from the group.

LINE -UP Gladys Enti/Meimunatu Sulemana, Aminatu Ibrahim, Mavis Danso, Yaa Avoe, Doreen Awuah, Florence Okoe, Anita Aenuku/ Memuna Darku, Adjoa Bayor, Olivia Amoako, Tahiru Rumanatu and Anita Amankwaa. 20 Sept. 07