AUCKLAND — The Philippine Women’s National Football Team’s dreams of making further history in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup were extinguished by 12th ranked Norway at the Eden Park stadium here.
The Filipinas bowed out of the tournament after they lost to the Norwegians 6-0 in front of 34,697 fans inside the historic venue here.
Still, it was a historic and inspiring run for the Filipinas, who finished their Group A run at fourth place with three points behind a win and two defeats.
The Filipinas fell to Switzerland, 0-2, to open the tournament but bounced back with a 1-0 upset of host New Zealand four days later.
But the 1995 champions of the tournament proved their pedigree on the neophytes in this contest.
Roman Haug scored past goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel twice in the first half to open the floodgates for the Norwegians. Roman Haug broke the deadlock from a tight angle just six minutes into the contest and she doubled her side’s advantage with a header in the 22nd minute.
Roman Haug then completed her hattrick in the 90+5 minute with a header.
Caroline Graham Hansen added to the Filipinas’ woes in the first half with a fantastic yet vengeful strike in the 31st minute.
Any hopes of a dramatic comeback were quickly dashed when defender Alicia Barker accidentally put the ball in her own net in the 48th minute while trying to clear the danger.
Moments later, a VAR check occurred after Norwegian midfielder Guro Reiten was brought down in the Filipinas’ box. The penalty was then awarded and Reiten converted it in the 53rd minute.
Adding salt to the wound, the Filipinas ended the match with only 10 players after substitute defender Sofia Harrison — who replaced Barker in the 57th minute — was sent off in the 67th minute after a VAR check for a bad tackle on Norway’s Thea Bjelde.
The Grasshoppers, who finished with a 1-1-1 record for four points, wound up with a tie with the Ferns of New Zealand. However, Norway had a plus-5 goal differential that paved the way for their advancement to the quarterfinals stage.
Over at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin here, Switzerland and New Zealand had a goalless draw, resulting in La Nati taking top seed in the group. The Swiss finished with a one win and two draws ledger for five points.
There will be no rest for the Filipinas as they will next play in the upcoming Asian Games in China.
Norway XI: Mikalsen (GK), Hansen, Mjelde (C), Boe Rise, Graham Hansen, Reiten, Bjelde, Harviken, Maanum, Haavi, Roman Haug.
Philippines XI: McDaniel (GK), Cowart, Sawicki, Long (C), Bolden, Eggesvik, Flanigan, Beard, Barker, Quezada, Guillou.
