Norway's winning goals came in the second half from Ragnhild Gulbrandsen and Ane Stangeland Horpestad.

Canada, employing canny midfield marking, beat Norway at its own game in the first half. It matched the 4-3-3 formation, made rapid long passes into dangerous spaces and was rewarded with a 1-0 halftime lead on Candace Chapman's goal.

The game plan was no coincidence.

Canada is coached by Even Pellerud, who led Norway to the 1995 World Cup title. Though he was banished to the stands for this match owing to an overhanging suspension, his fingerprints were all over the tactics.

"The last 10 minutes of the first half we saw that Canada was getting tired, so it was important to have the tempo in the second half," Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen said.

"We were not so pleased with the first half, we did not play too well. The passing was too slow, there was a lack of movement, but in the second half, there was more tempo from the back, good movement in the middle and some very good goals."

Norway drew level seven minutes into the second half as Gulbrandsen rose between two defenders to meet a cross from the right with a firm header.

Norway dominated possession in the second half. Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod made three impressive reflex saves to keep the score tied, but she could do nothing to stop Norway's winner in the 81st minute.

A corner from the right was headed on goal, blocked on the line by a defender, but Norway captain Ane Stangeland Horpestad was quickest to react to the loose ball and stabbed it home.

Pellerud only shook his head when asked if he expected his team to build fitness through the tournament, with a crucial game coming up Saturday against Ghana.

"We had a good first half, the players did everything I asked them to do," Pellerud said. "We were more tired in the second half, we could not work as hard."