The Philippine Women’s National Team magical run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ came to a heartbreaking end after the Filipinas bowed out of the competition following a 6-0 loss to Norway in the final Group A match at Eden Park.
In front of a boisterous 34,000+ plus fans at the stadium the Filipinas, that were coming off a resounding 1-0 win over hosts New Zealand, had a shot with destiny with a win securing safe passage to the knockout stages, but it was the Norwegians, World Cup winners in 1995, who found their form that led to the win.
Roman Haug scored two goals inside the first 30 minutes of the match, with a looping effort in the sixth minute followed by header in the 22nd minute.
Caroline Graham Hansen added a third goal at the half-hour mark, to send Norway 3-0 up at the half.
The Filipinas tried to muster a comeback, but were denied when Alicia Barker accidentally sent her clearance towards the goal in the 48th minute. Guro Reiten added a fifth from the penalty spot five minutes later after a foul by Jaclyn Sawicki inside the penalty area.
The Filipinas would then had to finish the match with ten players after substitute Sofia Harrison was sent off after a VAR review on her challenge on Norway’s Thea Blelde.
Haug would complete her hat-trick in the fifth minute of stoppage time with another header.
The Filipinas finished their maiden World Cup campaign with one win and two losses.
Despite the loss, Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic was proud of what the team has achieved in the last 18 months, encompassing the historic World Cup journey.
“The team fought to the end, they fought to the death, and from that perspective, it’s been an amazing World Cup,” said Stajcic. “The players have punched so far above their weight. They’ve delivered an amazing memory and history to Philippine football and the one that will go down in the annals of Philippine sporting history,”
