HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann shielded Switzerland to a 0-0 draw towards Norway on Tuesday on the Women’s World Cup, because the Norwegians performed with out star striker Ada Hegerberg due to harm.

Hegerberg was initially listed to start out, however the staff introduced in the course of the match that the Ballon d’Or winner was unable to play after experiencing “a feeling in the groin” towards the tip of her pre-match warmups.

The Norwegians might have used her to interrupt open a scoreless recreation. In her place, Sophie Roman Haug began the match as a striker. But Roman Haug’s Women’s World Cup debut proved to be a fruitless one. She was substituted within the 73rd minute for Karina Saevik.

Switzerland and Norway every had their share of alternatives to attain a decisive opener all through the match, but it surely was Norway that pressured Thalmann to give you 4 saves.

Despite a continuing drizzle for many of the match, 10,769 followers had been in attendance for the Group A match in a Waikato Stadium that holds simply over 18,000.

KEY MOMENT

Thalmann made quite a lot of key saves, however her sternest check got here with quarter-hour left in regulation time.

Norway substitute Caroline Graham Hansen launched a robust curving shot from the highest of the realm, however Thalmann parried the low shot out for a nook.

WHY IT MATTERS

The consequence leaves Group A, which additionally contains the Philippine and co-host New Zealand, up for grabs. The Swiss lead with 4 factors, New Zealand and the Philippines every have three and Norway has one. But there are eventualities below which every of them might make the knockout stage.

WHAT’S NEXT

Sitting on the prime of Group A, Switzerland will duel with second-place New Zealand in Dunedin. In want of a win, Norway will journey to Auckland to face a Philippines lineup emboldened after upsetting the Football Ferns 1-0. Both matches can be performed Sunday.

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Luke Vargas is a pupil within the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.

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