Norway turned on the style at Eden Park on July 30, thrashing the Philippines 6-0 in front of 34,697 fans to advance to the knockout phase of the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals, having finished ahead of co-hosts New Zealand on goal difference. Alen Stajcic's side started brightly, but once Norway scored with their first attack, the writing was on the wall for the "Filipinas", much to the dismay of the majority of those present - the local Philippines community was out in force at New Zealand's national stadium. Frida Maanum broke down the right in the sixth minute and fired in a cross which was cleared back to her. She played the ball back to Thea Bjelde, whose cross beyond the far post was met by Sophie Roman Haug with a superb angled volley which flew across Olivia McDaniel and in by the opposite upright to give "The Red Flames" the perfect start. Guro Reiten was eager to get in on the act, and a couple of tantalising crosses in the next five minutes had the Philippines at full stretch. Caroline Graham Hansen and Maanum then worked a sixteenth minute one-two, from which the resulting cross was headed out by Katrina Guillou. It didn't get very far, as the outstanding Vilde Boe Risa picked out Roman Haug with a cross which invited the opening goalscorer to double her personal tally for the game by rising between defenders to head home over McDaniel - 2-0 with just seventeen minutes on the clock. The hat-trick-hunting Roman Haug was denied by McDaniel six minutes later as she looked to head home an Emilie Haavi cross, after which Graham Hansen took charge of proceedings, turning Angela Beard this way and that in the 29th minute before firing in a low cross which Roman Haug looked to turn home with a close range back-heeled flick. Hali Long knew little about it, but her presence on the goal line proved vital as she blocked the effort to safety. The resulting Graham Hansen corner was pawed out from beneath her crossbar by the under pressure McDaniel, who conceded a third goal seconds later as concerted Norwegian pressure was finally rewarded when Graham Hansen thundered home a twenty-five yarder - 3-0. The Philippines goalkeeper was called upon twice more to frustrate the Norwegians in the next five minutes, Haavi the first player frustrated, Long a much more relieved one as her team-mate came close to turning a Maanum cross into her own net eight minutes before half-time. Prior to the interval, Beard stung the gloves of Aurora Mikalsen with a twenty-five yarder which excited the Philippines fans, but they were rather subdued after half-time, a quick-fire double sending Norway nap. Boe Risa and Roman Haug combined with Maanum in the 48th minute, her searching cross for Reiten being turned into her own net by the unfortunate Alicia Barker. Straight from the kick-off, Haavi stung the gloves of McDaniel once more, with the rebound breaking kindly for Reiten. Before she could pull the trigger, however, she was hauled down from behind by Jaclyn Sawicki, a challenge which prompted Reiten to appeal with gusto to Canadian referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin. That appeal was justified, the Video Assistant Referee deeming that Reiten had indeed been taken

out from behind, and a penalty was justified. Reiten duly sent McDaniel the wrong way from the spot - 5-0 after 53 minutes. Two minutes later, Reiten was picked out by Maanum, but this time steered her shot past both McDaniel and the far post, a threat to which the Philippines responded with a by now rare attack just shy of the hour mark. Long just failed to make contact with Beard's corner, much to Mikalsen's relief. After Reiten's delicious cross had arced just beyond the bows of the incoming Roman Haug, Maanum sent a twenty-yarder fizzing past the far post as Norway continued their pursuit for goals. The Philippines were denied a penalty in the 63rd minute when Bjelde prevented Barker from getting on the end of a Guillou cross, an incident to which substitute Sofia Harrison took umbrage, to the extent of leaving her calling card on Bjelde four minutes later. Her late challenge was spotted by VAR, however, and after a review, out came referee Beaudoin's red card - off Harrison went, meaning the Philippines were down to ten for the duration. Two minutes later, Graham Hansen pounced on a back-pass and, with Reiten in acres of space to her left, went for glory, only to direct her chipped effort onto the roof of the net. She went closer in the 74th minute, however, Sawicki forced to block her attempt seconds after substitute Ingrid Engen had been foiled by Long's block as the Norwegians sought a sixth goal. Only a fabulous flying save to her left by McDaniel prevented Reiten from curling home what would have been a gem of a goal in the 83rd minute, while from the resulting corner, Reiten's delivery was turned past her own post by Meryll Serrano - quite how a goal kick came to pass, only the officials will know! In the dying minutes, McDaniel twice denied Anna Josendal shots, but Norway weren't to be denied their sixth goal, nor Roman Haug her hat-trick. Seconds after Reiten had sent a low cross fizzing across her bows, the tall striker headed home another cross supplied by Reiten's wand of a left foot to the delight of all her team-mates. She came within inches of netting a fourth goal in the time remaining, Josendal's cross from the right seeing Roman Haug, at full stretch, direct the ball against the far post, with Reiten's bid to ram home the rebound foundering on yet another fine save by McDaniel, who has done her reputation no harm at this World Cup. Sadly for the Philippines, this defeat means they finish bottom of the group and will be heading home, unlike Norway, who, as group runners-up, are Wellington-bound to face either Spain or Japan, one of whom will finish top of their group and also advance to the knockout rounds. Norway:     Mikalsen; Bjelde (Sonstevold, 68), Mjelde, Harviken (Bergsvand, 81), Hansen; Maanum (Engen, 68), Boe Risa (booked, 86), Reiten; Graham Hansen (Josendal, 81), Roman Haug, Haavi (Saevik, 68) Philippines:     O. McDaniel; Barker (Harrison, 57 (sent off, 67)), Long, Cowart, Beard; Quezada (Serrano, 81), Eggesvik, Sawicki (Bugay, 74, Guillou (booked, 54); Flanigan (Randle, 57), Bolden C. McDaniel, 74) Referee:     Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (Canada)