Norway beats Ghana to top Group C

Updated: September 20, 2007, 9:23 AM EST 1 comment

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HANGZHOU, China (AP) - Norway strolled to an easy 7-2 win over Ghana on Thursday to take the top spot in Group C at the women's World Cup and set up a quarterfinal meeting with hosts China.

In Chengdu, Australia scored a dramatic late equalizer to tie Canada 2-2 and take second spot in Group C and set up a quarterfinal against Brazil. Both games will be played Sunday.

Norway took advantage of very lax marking by Ghana to score three times in the first half and four in the second.

Striker Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored a hat-trick to become the top scorer in the tournament with five goals.

The victory gave Norway seven points in the group stage, ahead of Australia on five points. Canada finished with three points, while Ghana was last with zero points.

Norwegian coach Bjarne Berntsen said although his team was sloppy in defence against Ghana he was confident of doing well in the semifinals.

"I think if we are at our best, we can go to the semifinal," he said. "We were very casual in defense at times. We have to be much better defensively in the quarterfinals."

Norway opened strongly with Lene Storlokken scoring in the fourth minute, but then missed a series of chances until Guldrandsen scored in the 39th minute and captain Ane Stangeland Horpestad converted a penalty in first-half injury time.

Gulbrandsen added two more in the second half, both off headers. Substitutes Isabell Herlovsen and Lise Klaveness also scored for Norway.

After the seventh goal, Norway let its guard down in the last 15 minutes, and Ghana captain Adjoa Bayor took advantage to score a beautiful free kick, curling the ball over the Norwegian wall into the far corner of the goal.

Ghana got its second goal 10 minutes from the end when Florence Okoe scored a penalty kick.

Brazil beat Denmark 1-0 on a last-minute goal Thursday to top Group D, while China beat New Zealand 2-0 to finish second.

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