Hegerberg leads Norway to opening 2-1 win over host nation Switzerland at Euro 2025

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Norway star Ada Hegerberg led her team to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over host nation Switzerland despite missing a penalty in their opening game at the Women’s European Championship on Wednesday.

The home team dominated the first half and went ahead in the 28th minute when Nadine Riesen capitalized on some pinball-machine Norwegian defending to score in off the left post.

Hegerberg equalized against the run of play with a header to Vilde Bøe Risa’s corner in the 54th, four minutes before Switzerland’s Julia Stierli scored an own goal trying to stop Caroline Graham Hansen’s cross for Hegerberg.

But Hegerberg – the all-time Women’s Champions League top-scorer – sent her penalty to the left of the post in the 70th after Géraldine Reuteler was penalized for hand ball while trying to defend against the Lyon star.

Reuteler had sent the ball crashing off the crossbar for the dominant Swiss in the first half.

“It was a strong talk at halftime, you know we have high standards in the team," Norway coach Gemma Grainger said.

Switzerland was awarded a penalty after Hegerberg’s miss only to have the decision overturned after a VAR review for an offside call.

The Swiss players looked crestfallen after the game, as did veteran coach Pia Sundhage who had previously called this job her “ biggest challenge.” Switzerland was looking for just its second win in seven matches at a European Championship.

“There’s such a small difference between being successful and not being successful,” Sundhage said.

Many fans stayed in their seats to applaud the team afterward. The match was played at St. Jakob-Park, across the road from where Austrian singer JJ won the Eurovision Song Contest in May. It’s Switzerland’s biggest stadium with a capacity of 34,250 for the tournament and it will also host the final, among other games.

This game — the second of the tournament after Finland’s 1-0 win over Iceland — was preceded by the Euro 2025 opening ceremony. Dancers used long silver tubes in a carefully choreographed performance that paid tribute to Switzerland's clock-making heritage and Alpine landscape.

UEFA said the modest ceremony celebrated “the pinnacle of European team spirit” while emphasizing “diversity, unity and the triumph of women’s football on its greatest stage.”

Both captains wore rainbow armbands to underline the message.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Norway's Ada Hegerberg, center, scores her side's first goal during the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Vilde Boe Risa celebrates at the end of the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Ada Hegerberg embraces Norway head coach Gemma Grainger when leaving the pitch to be substituted during the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Ada Hegerberg, center, scores her side's first goal during the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Ada Hegerberg applauds while leaving the pitch to be substituted during the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Frida Maanum, left and Ada Hegerberg (14) celebrate an own goal by Switzerland's defender Julia Stierli, on pitch during the Euro 2025 Group A soccer match between Switzerland and Norway at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — United States international Ricardo Pepi was to be operated on after breaking his right arm during a game with PSV Eindhoven and is expected to be out for two months.

The recovery timeline should give Pepi enough time to regain his form and secure a place on the U.S. team for a home World Cup.

The 23-year-old Pepi was injured when he tumbled after scoring during the first half of a 5-1 win over Excelsior in the Dutch league on Saturday.

“It didn’t look good right away and at such a moment you would prefer to look the other way,” PSV coach Peter Bosz said. “Last January Ricardo was already out due to his knee injury. It won’t last that long now, but unfortunately we lost him again. Pepi was on a good run, had a strong training camp and was all the way back. … All signs were green for a strong second half of the season, so this is incredibly disappointing.”

Pepi has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 34 matches for the U.S.

The U.S. faces Paraguay, Australia and another team still to be determined through qualifying playoffs in the group stage of the June 11-July 19 World Cup, which will also be co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.

Pepi was surprisingly left off the U.S. squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - PSV's Ricardo Pepi reacts after missing a scoring chance during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Union SG, at the PSV stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Sept.16, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)