Norway faltered against the Netherlands

Céline Bizet Eldhouse falls in combat with Janssen and Dijkstra. Photograph: Peter DeJong/AP/NTB

(Netherlands-Norway 1-0) The first real test for the Norwegian national team coach ended with a loss in the World Cup qualifiers to the Netherlands.

Tuesday 9 April at 23:04

The Netherlands took a 1-0 lead after just six minutes when Linneth Bernstein curled a beautiful ball around Thea Belde and into goalkeeper Cecilie Weskerstrand's corner.

Norway got off to a good start in their European Cup qualifiers, beating Finland 4-0 in Ulleval on Friday. On the other hand, the Netherlands opened the match with a score of 0-2 against Italy.

National team manager Gemma Grainger has achieved three wins out of a possible three and zero goals behind as the new coach of the Norwegian national team. Grainger opened his career in Norway with an 8-0 run in two matches against Croatia in the Nations League, then a 4-0 win over Finland. This was Grainger's first real test. It ended in loss.

Linneth Bernstein makes it 1-0 for the Netherlands. Thea Beldi is unable to stop her. Photograph: Peter DeJong/AP/NTB

– I was very satisfied, but of course I don't like losing, Grainger tells NRK.

Norway played a very good second half. I think we deserve more, says NRK expert Karl-Erik Torp live.

-There were a lot of ugly breakups back and forth. Hawaiian Football. It was a golden opportunity to beat the Netherlands, says Elise Thorsnes in the NRK studio.

Finland rose from 0-4 against Norway and won 2-1 over Italy on Tuesday evening. Italy won over the Netherlands 2-0. This means that all four teams have three points after two matches.

– It's a very equal group. We knew it would be like this, Gemma Grainger tells NRK in Breda.

Guru Riten feels desperate after finally taking a big chance. Her shot hit the Dutchman's back and went into a corner kick. Photograph: Peter DeJong/AP/NTB

The Netherlands entered this match with three consecutive defeats. They have also been held scoreless off the field in these last three games.

– The Netherlands get out of the Norwegian pressure game very easily, says Andrine Hegerberg in the NRK studio during the break.

Norway's biggest chance of the first half came early on when Joro Reiten almost got burned – but the ball hit a Dutch player and rolled into a corner kick.

Norway could have easily taken the lead there, says NRK's Elise Thorsnes.

Dutch jubilation and Norwegian despair draw 1-0. Photograph: Peter DeJong/AP/NTB

– We were a bit inaccurate in the final third, says assistant coach Ingvild Steensland during the break.

Norway opened the second half very well, and did not prevent Dutch goalkeeper Celine Bizet Eldhusi from equalizing.

As the 70th minute approached, Elisabeth Terland and Emily Hafey were substituted for Norway. Sævik and Ildhusøy sat on the bench.

Towards the end, Terland made a good preparation, and Guru Reiten got the ball into a good position. But the shot hit the Dutchman's back and ended up in the corner.

– These are opportunities we have to seize, but the Netherlands were good at getting in the way today, says Thorsnes on the NRK broadcast.

Norway tried to equalize near the end, but the ball did not go towards Norway.

-We are very strong defensively. “Then we get bored when we concede, when they don't have any more chances,” Ingrid Seierstad Engen tells NRK.

Norway was missing such profilers as Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen, Maren Melde and Frida Mannum. The Netherlands also missed many of its big stars.