Keeper hero wept after handball dramaKari Aalvik Grimsbø was weeping as she spoke with NRK right after the match.
Brazil drove over the out-of-form Norwegians in their steamroller in this morning's quarter-final in the London Olympics, establishing a six-goal lead at one point. With things looking blacker than ever, Kari Aalvik Grimsbø worked a miracle in the second half to turn the match round.
Grimsbø has been a familiar figure on the Norway bench as the reserve to Katrine Lunde Haraldsen since before the Beijing Olympics, but today, with Haraldsen suffering from the effects of 22 straight months of handball, Grimsbø seized the moment and Brazil were restricted to six goals as she made 14 saves. Final score: Norway 21 Brazil 19 (half time 9-13).
Once again Kari Aalvik Grimsbø started on the bench in this morning's quarter-final, but after much handball drama against Brazil she was described as the best keeper in the world by the national team trainer. The hero was in tears when she spoke to NRK on camera after the match. "Yeeess!!", she yelled on being asked if she was ready for the semifinal. Norway were trailing for 47 minutes, but after a crazy end to the match they are through to the semis.
A lot of the credit goes to Grimsbø who shut the goal up after half time. "I can't say much. We were just fighting all the way. It was a delight! We stood together and had belief in ourselves", she said. Although she did not figure in the starting team, she showed how important she has been for Norway. The official statistics show that she made 14 saves from 22 shots, an unusually high 63% save ratio.
After the match the experts fell over themselves in their praise. "This is keeper play in line with the very best through history", said NRK commentator Christian Nilssen.
"You can only take your hat off to her. Her second half was out of this world", said Øystein Havang.
Thorir Heirgeirsson followed up. "Kari has stepped up. She has shown that she is on the way to becoming the world's best keeper", he said.
The atmosphere in the Copper Box was electric, with stamping on the floor, cow-bells ringing and much clapping from the crowd as Norway turned the match round. Brazil led by six goal in the second half, but when Gøril Snorroeggen brought the score to 12-15 Christian Nilssen shouted, "now something is about to happen".
Happen it did. Even though Norway wasted several chances, the defence suddenly clicked into position and Grimsbø started her amazing display of goalkeeping. Slowy but surely Norway reeled the Brazilians in and put a stop to their samba-handball. In the 22nd minute Snorroeggen popped up again and the scores were even at 18-18. The stage was ready for a rare drama as Norway brought their win to shore.
"It was a gigantic turn-round after we were down and out in the first half", said NRK expert Geir Oustorp.
"It happened with a couple of counterattacks, and then things fell into place. We have waited five matches for this", said Thorir Hergeirsson. After the match the players thanked the public for their support. All of a sudden their choice of tickets had a lucky outcome.