Norway scores four in Group B opener against Thailand

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:16 am
Trine Ronning scored from a curled free kick to open the scoring for Norway.
Lars Baron/Getty Images

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Norway dominated Thailand 4-0 to open Group B play at the Women's World Cup on Sunday.

No. 11-ranked Norway, the 1995 world champion, scored in the 15th minute when Trine Ronning bent a free kick around a wall of Thai defenders to beat goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing.

Isabell Herlovsen added a pair of goals five minutes apart, beating Boonsing in the 29th minute and heading in a crossing pass from Solveig Gulbrandsen in the 34th. Ada Hegerberg capped the scoring in the 68th minute.

The lowest-ranked team in the field at 67th, Thailand made the tournament after a steroid scandal involving five players from No. 8-ranked North Korea at the 2011 Women's World Cup.

Boonsing had a spectacular save on Maren Mjelde on a penalty kick in the 75th minute. After Duangnapa Sritala was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area and received a yellow card, Mjelde drove her kick to the keeper's right. Boonsing guessed correctly and stopped it.