VILA REAL STO ANTONIO, Portugal, Mar. 2 -- Despite improving in performance from two days ago and remaining superior on the pitch for some time, Chinese women's football team lost to Norway 2-0 in the second round of the 25th Algarve Cup here on Friday.

Coming off their 2-1 defeat to hosts Portugal on Wednesday, the Steel Roses started sharp Friday afternoon -- in both halves of the game, when Norwegian head coach Martin Sjogren admitted "China started both of the halves better than us".

But it was Norway that took the lead with a 25th minute header from Ingrid Syrstad Engen, with Emilie Haavie providing the cross from the left.

Goalkeeper Lu came out for the header but didn't get the ball. When asked by Xinhua, head coach of Chinese team Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjolfsson said he would have to see a replay of the goal, but "it seems like a goal we could prevent."

Up until the first goal, Norway was largely on the defense. But in the few cases where they got on offense, they were intrusive and effective. Great techniques were on display when Caroline Graham Hansen tilted the Chinese defense organization almost off balance with a series of good moves.

China created a number of goal-scoring opportunities with quality passing, and Wang Shuang was instrumental in testing Norway's defense to the edge, only to miss the goal slightly. She was often seen with the ball around the box, but without effective support from her teammates.

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