Norway defeated the United States 2-0 in their group opening match of the women's soccer tournament in Qinhuangdao on Wednesday, two days before the official opening of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Norway surprised the U.S. only two minutes into the match. Leni Larsen Kaurin opened the scoring with a header when American goalie Hope Solo bumped into defender Lori Chalupny.

Melissa Wiik added the second two minutes later when she dinked the ball to Solo's right hand corner.

The Americans staged more attacks in the second half, but failed to convert any of them as their shots were either wide open or denied by the goalkeeper.

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2008)