OXBOROUGH - Norway coach Per-Mathias Hogmo really thought his team matched up well against China. He thought he was equal in all but one facet of the game - quickness.
It was that quickness, along with a swarming defense, making things quite easy for China keeper Gao Hong, that spelled doom for Norway and shattered its dream of a second straight Women's World Cup title.
China's 5-0 semifinal win was total domination and if it weren't for the sweltering temperatures and thick humidity that hung over Foxboro Stadium, the Chinese might not even have worked up a sweat.
It was that easy.
Things were so bad for the defending champions that when they went into the dressing room at the half trailing, 2-0, they had yet to drill a shot at Gao. They didn't have their first until the 63d minute and by that time it was 3-0 and a consolation game against Brazil was all but a certainty.
''It's the best team we have met,'' said Hogmo. ''We saw they had beaten the United States twice this year and we saw why. They were very strong defensively, very strong attacking, and very strong individually with great skills.
''We thought before the match that we had a chance to beat them, but I also said the most important thing was that we move our feet fast enough and be quick like them. We didn't do that today. We looked tired from the beginning.
''When we looked at China for the last three matches, I didn't think they'd be as strong as we saw today. They impressed me a lot.''
China's quickness was evident throughout. It continually beat Norway to loose balls and every time a Norway attacker seemed to be zoning in on Gao, she would find herself double- and often triple-teamed. Gao wound up with nine saves, all after the 63d minute.
Norway keeper Bente Nordby, although beaten five times from every conceivable angle, including on a penalty shot by Sun Wen, turned back several shots that were labeled. The five goals she allowed were two more than she allowed in Norway's five previous games.
''We had a bad day and China was very very good tonight,'' said Nordby. ''It seemed like we didn't have a chance. China came out strong and just kept getting stronger. When it was 2-0 at halftime, we thought we were still in it, but then when it was 3-0, we were done.
''China was the best we have ever seen and I think the US will have a tough match.''
Asked if he were a betting man, who would he wager on, China or the United States, Hogmo thought for a moment and then diplomatically said ''$100 on each team.''
