Match report
Thank you for joining me for this match! Norway had a target, they had to win by three goals to ensure they would go through and they smashed it. It’s tough for the Philippines as they bow out but it has been a historic run for the nation. Have a read of the report when it comes in and keep up to date with Germany Colombia! Apart from that, have a great Sunday!
What did you make of Harrison’s red card? Have a watch below (clip from Fox and so some may not have access):
After a VAR check, Sofia Harrison has been given a red card and will be sent off 🟥 pic.twitter.com/8oC0O9utfs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 30, 2023
Colombia are playing well against Germany, that game still 0-0 after half an hour:
Here’s some more history from the Morocco game:
In my opinion this was Haug’s best of her three goals today (clip is from the BBC and so some may not have access):
WHAT A FINISH! 😍
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 30, 2023
Beautiful volley from Sophie Haug! 🤌#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/P3j7Cq5tBR
Co-hosts New Zealand are out and so the home support will be willing Australia to beat Canada to go through. The team are being very evasive about Sam Kerr, the captain missed the two opening matches with injury:
Earlier today, the tournament saw a slice of history as Morocco bagged their first win at a World Cup. Read all here:
Germany and Colombia are up next in today’s action and while neither side can qualify as a result of this match, this is just their second group game, if Germany avoid defeat South Korea are out. That one has just kicked off:
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Before this game Norway had not scored a goal at the tournament, now they have six and three belong to Haug! She is now third on the Golden Boot tally:
Have you subscribed to our free women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts, which comes out weekly? It supplies you with exclusive content and all the news you need to know. Sign up here:
A few of you may not have come across Haug before with Hegerberg usually in her place, so here’s a bit about her:
Some fun facts from FIFA, Graham Hansen’s goal was hit 29.8 metres out and had a speed of 77kmh. Take a look at the strike (clip is from BBC so some may not have access):
Caroline Graham Hansen is back in the starting lineup and it's paid off for Norway already! 🔥#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/sCmwusoNsN
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 30, 2023
So that is Group A decided! Switzerland go through after topping the group and Norway manage to sneak to the knock-out stages following a thunderous win. Co-hosts New Zealand and the Philippines are out.
Full time! Norway 6-0 Philippines
Norway are through. The Philippines are out. It was a dominant win from Norway which included a hat-trick from Haug after the team did not score in their opening two matches. The Philippines have also had a memorable tournament, their first win with that victory over New Zealand.
90 + 11 min: The other game has finished and it has finished 0-0, co-hosts New Zealand are out! Back to this game and Norway smack the post through Haug and Reiten’s chance is saved!
90 + 9 min: The Philippines have a free kick and it’s a great delivery with Mikalsen punching away. Eggesvik has a shot but it’s wide. Well Norway had a marker in this match, they had to win by three goals. They have met that and more so.
90 + 7 min: Haug is right up there now in the Golden Boot race! Norway want more here as Boe Risa’s shot is over the bar.
GOAL! Norway 6-0 Philippines (Haug, 90+5)
She has her hat-trick! Her easiest of the three, she is beaming.
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90 + 5 min: Josendal has another shot on target but McDaniel saves, the keeper has definitely played her part this evening – particularly with that brilliant save on Reiten’s chance.
90 + 3 min: Serrano makes a great challenge to launch a Philippines attack but Norway quickly win it back, it’s been the tale of the match so far.
90 + 1 min: 11 minutes added here.
90 min: The Philippines have done well not to concede more, they have been down to 10 for 20 minutes but have worked the game well. When they have possession they are creating chances and so Norway are taking the sting out of this one, happy to run it through the team. They are patient and McDaniel saves well again – Josendal has a half hearted shot.
88 min: Boe Risa is handed a yellow card for a sliding tackle on Serrano. Philippines have a free kick as a result and McDaniel is over it, this time her boot has too much and it’s out.
86 min: Haug gives away a free kick and McDaniel is over it, the keeper has quite the boot on her. She wallops it and it’s cleared and then Engen wins a free kick herself for Norway to clear their lines.
84 min: Philippines have also made a change with Quezada off for Serrano. OH MY! What a save from McDaniel. Reiten has a great shot but the keeper reads it all the way and lifts it over the bar with one hand. Norway corner to come, it’s in swiftly from Reiten but it’s out for a goal kick.
82 min: There’s a bit of jostling between Long and Haug, they don’t even have the ball but they have an altercation. The referee is having a word with both here. Norway make more changes with Graham Hansen and Harviken off for Josendal and Bergsvand.
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80 min: Haug was a whisker away from a hat-trick there, Engen pings the ball in but Haug’s header can’t make contact!
78 min: Boe Risa’s pass is intercepted and the Philippines make a break! A great long pass comes to Quezada but she can’t quite get to it, she would have been offside anyway.
77 min: Cowart sees the ball over the bar for another Norway corner, Graham Hansen passes to the top of the box and Norway are forced back to half way.
76 min: That was a really poor corner from Graham Hansen, it goes straight into the side netting.
75 min: Graham Hansen dribbles, dribbles and just keeps dribbling! Her shot is deflected over by Sawicki – a great intervention but concedes a corner.
74 min: The red card seems to have galvanised this Philippines side and they are playing with more energy but Norway are away here. Engen receives the ball in the box but her shot is blocked.
72 min: Bolden wins a corner and Beard takes it, Mikalsen punches away and the chance is gone. Bjelde was one of the player to come off by the way, she limped to the bench.
70 min: Among that Norway have made three changes with Engen, Sonstevold and I didn’t catch the other but will update you when I have it! Graham Hansen takes a shot but it’s over.
RED CARD! Norway 5-0 Philippines (Harrison, 67')
Harrison has just come on! She is given her marching orders. I got it wrong, Bjelde was not the player involved in the potential penalty, her challenge came after from Harrison.
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66 min: Oh my god, VAR are checking for a Philippines red card on the challenge on Bjelde!
64 min: The crowd are even louder, if that’s possible, when the Philippines get on the ball. The team must be lifted by their support, the atmosphere is electric. A loose pass sees Reiten with it, she crosses but Haug’s run isn’t timed well and the chance is gone. But here come the Philippines! They have a great cross but there’s a collision in the box, the crowd want a penalty for Bjelde’s foul but it isn’t given. The Norwegian is down injured after that and receiving treatment.
62 min: Maanum’s first shot is blocked but it’s brought back to her and her lofted chance is wide.
60 min: The Philippines win another corner, they are playing more freely here, and it’s Beard over the ball again. It’s a good delivery, Mikalsen gets contact but drops it and there’s a slight panic before the keeper pounces on it. Mikalsen then has a bad clearance but her defenders come to her rescue.
58 min: It comes in but Mikalsen punches away and Beard’s resulting effort is wide. The Philippines make those changes with Flanigan and Barker off.
56 min: Randle and Annis are preparing to come on but first the Philippines have a free kick. McDaniel takes it and it’s a monstrous hit, straight into the box and they win a corner.
56 min: A beautiful ball from Boe Risa to Maanum who feeds Reiten but her effort is wide. She shouts in frustration.
54 min: Well if Norway had been asleep for the start of this tournament, they are firmly awake now! Guillou gets a yellow card for a shirt pull on Graham Hansen.
PENALTY! Norway 5-0 Philippines (Reiten, 52')
Reiten is over the penalty she won for her team and it’s clean!
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51 min: There is a penalty! the referee judged Reiten was tripped by Sawicki.
51 min: The referee was told to go an have a look here, Sawicki seems to have fouled her but will it be given?
49 min: So horrible for Parker, she got back in a great position to prevent the ball getting to Reiten! Haavi then has a shot which is saved and Reiten is hauled down in the box, VAR checking for a penalty!
GOAL! Norway 4-0 Philippines (OG Parker, 48')
Parker slides to try and prevent a goal but she hits it in
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47 min: Norway want more, they are turning the screw with Graham Hansen crossing in but it smacks the side netting.
Back underway! Norway 3-0 Philippines
Here we go!
I think the second half will be delayed by a minute or two as Switzerland New Zealand had more injury time, it’s my understanding they will kick-off at the same time.
Here’s the report from Morocco’s historic win earlier today:
Haug is now seventh on the Golden Boot standings after her two efforts, you can keep up to date with that here:
Here’s how the table looks as things stand (excuse my homemade table!):
Switzerland – 5
Norway – 4
New Zealand – 4
Philippines – 3
Half-time! Norway 3-0 Philippines
Norway have been utterly dominant and thanks to Haug’s masterful hits and the screamer from Graham Hansen they have the ideal scoreline. As things stand, no matter what happens in the other game Norway will progress. The other side of the coin for the Philippines, if they lose they are out and so they need to find three goals in the second half to stay in the tournament.
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45 + 2 min: Philippines have a great break! Barker passes to Flanigan who tries to find Bolden but Bjelde does enough to disrupt – Norway can’t become complacent as the Philippines will punish them. There are three minutes added.
45 min: Really well marshalled by Cowart who was under pressure in the box and Long intercepts a ball to Reiten but Barker then loses out to Haavi.
43 min: Bolden chases a pass to Mikalsen from Harviken but the keeper clears. Norway launch an attack and Graham Hansen spots Reiten in the box but it’s blocked.
41 min: Reiten and Eggesvik are in a right battle and this time Reiten wins out, getting a cross in but it’s cleared. Bolden is down here and in some pain, she took some studs to her knee. She doesn’t need treatment though and she’s up.
39 min: Maanum has a ball in and Long takes it away from Norwegian players but it’s almost an own goal! McDaniel collects but my heart was in my mouth for a second there. The Philippines win a throw in and it comes to Beard on the edge of the area and she takes a shot – Mikalsen collects but it’s their first shot on target.
37 min: The Philippines are being completely picked apart here, Haavi has another shot blocked. The crowd come to life again though as Long passes to Bolden but it’s not long until Norway win it back.
35 min: Haavi crosses in and it almost reaches Haug but the Philippines do enough to clear. Graham Hansen pings it up again and it eventually comes to Haavi but McDaniel saves.
33 min: Graham Hansen’s goal means no matter the result in the other game, if the score in this one stays as it is Norway are through. But they want more/
GOAL! Norway 3-0 Philippines (Graham Hansen, 31')
This is why she should start games! What a strike from the star, huge.
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31 min: That was almost in from the corner! McDaniel follows the ball all the way and punches clear.
30 min: T Hansen manages to keep the ball in play and lay it into the area but Bolden clears. Norway are on the search for their third, they will want as many goals on the board as possible. Here they come again with Graham Hansen, she does so well to cross to her and Haug has a back heel but Long blocks sensationally! Norway corner.
28 min: Haavi intercepts a pass from Long and it almost creates a chance but her touch is out of play. Every time the Philippines are on the ball the crowd come to life.
26 min: The game has settled slightly after a frantic few minutes there! Get your breath back, we go again
24 min: My word! Haug is almost in again, she gets a shot away but McDaniel collects.
24 min: Norway have a corner here, Graham Hansen is over it but the Philippines clear it well. Norway come again, they are not taking the foot off the gas but Mjelde’s cross has too much on it.
22 min: Haug would not usually be starting, she is on in place of the injured Hegerberg but what an impact she is having! Boe Risa has to track back now as Quezada looks to break away but the Norweigan does just enough to repel her.
20 min: The Philippines started so well, troubling the Norway defence but two brilliant moments from Haug has stunned them slightly. They definitely have enough in the team to come back but they just need some sustained time on the ball.
18 min: Well, well, well! As things stand, still a goalless draw in the other match, Norway would be through on goal difference and co-hosts New Zealand would be out.
GOAL! Norway 2-0 Philippines (Haug, 17')
That header! What a hit, it’s worked well and they put themselves in a great position here.
Updated
16 min: Maanum and Bjelde work well between each other but then pass it into a space with no one on the run. Possession exchanges hands quickly in the next few moments. Peter has got in touch and said: “What a moment for Sara Eggesvik! Born in Norway and capped at the U19 and U23 levels before switching to the Philippines, her mother’s birth country. Can you imagine the scenes if she scores the decisive goal tonight?” It would be huge! I’d like to see her post-match interview if that does happen!
14 min: Beard throws but drops it, the referee allows her to retake despite Maanum’s protests of a foul throw. It comes into the box but Mjelde blocks.
12 min: Reiten pops it in, Haug heads it but it’s wide. Norway wanted another corner but a goal kick is on.
11 min: Barker does well to track back and defend Haavi who was in a great position, Norway corner.
9 min: The free kick is taken short and worked well into the box, it comes to T Hansen and it’s just wide! If things stay as it is, with Switzerland and New Zealand drawing, Norway would still go out – it would go down to head to head. But Reiten tries to change their fortunes with a great cross and Beard sees it out for a corner. Reiten takes but McDaniel collects easily.
8 min: Norway had set themselves a target of a 3-0 win today and they are on their way, that was also Norway’s first goal of this tournament. The team now win a free kick.
GOAL! Norway 1-0 Philippines (Haug, 9')
What a goal! It’s pipped in and Haug finds the corner with an amazing strike at a tricky angle.
Updated
6 min: Graham Hansen is in the box again, she is full of beans today, and she wins a corner. It’s taken short, eventually comes in but it’s well defended. Norway work it around the area again but McDaniel booms it upfield and what a clearance it is!
4 min: Graham Hansen dribbles and is lofted towards goal but McDaniel collects, her save is met with a huge cheer – it’s clear who the crowd want to win!
3 min: Beard takes it and it’s a good delivery, it pinballs around but Harviken eventually clears. A great start from the Philippines.
2 min: Norway win an early foul on Reiten but Guillou reads the play extremely well and is away! Graham Hansen fouls her to stop the chance and they have a free kick!
Kick-off! Norway 0-0 Philippines
Here we go then! Group A will be decided over the next 90 minutes.
How do you see this shaking out? If Norway go out at the group stage it will be a huge failure, they should be topping this group! The Philippines definitely have the majority of support in the stadium.
The players are out in Auckland and the anthems will shortly follow. Will Norway bow out at the group stage for the second time in 12 months? Kick-off in just under 10 minutes.
Here is more information on Hegerberg not being available:
I had a dream I slept through my alarm and woke up to the second half of this game, the speed at which I checked the time when my alarm actually did go off was impressive! Any similar dreams let me know! Or if you have any predictions for how Group A will shake out, you can contact me on Twitter or email.
A huge and historic win for Morocco as they have defeated South Korea! Catch up with all the reaction:
And on the Philippines’ star player: “Sarina Bolden arrives in Australia and New Zealand having scored a joint record 22 goals in 37 appearances at the time of writing, and having converted the shootout penalty that secured World Cup qualification. She sets an example for the rest of the players with her as well as style of play, inspiring others to give their all too. “I’m a player who has energy,” she told fifa.com. “I try my best to bring that energy and keep the tempo high. And I think I’m a leader on the field. All of that makes me the player that I am.” Having picked up experience from playing in the US – where she was born – as well as Sweden, Taiwan and Japan, Bolden has been with Western Sydney Wanderers since 2022.” Full piece:
A fun fact about Norway from our team guide: “Pretty much the entire Norway squad has become gripped by a particular pastime during camps in the recent 12 months, namely crosswords. The press officer Halvor Lea started printing and handing out crosswords to anyone who wanted one and the activity became more and more popular. ”We help each other out if anyone gets stuck so it has become a really social thing for us,” the goalkeeper Guro Pettersen said.” Full piece:
A great feature to dig into:
As this one kicks off at the same time as the other match in Group A we are running two different blogs! You can catch all the action from Switzerland New Zealand here:
And for the Philippines and they also make one change with Harrison out with Barker coming in.
Starting XI: McDaniel, Cowart, Sawicki, Long, Bolden, Eggesvik, Flanigan, Beard, Barker, Quezada, Guillou
The team news is here! Let’s start with Norway as they make one change with Eikeland making way for Graham Hansen. Hegerberg is unavailable for the match.
Starting XI: Mikalsen, T Hansen, Mjelde, Boe Rise, Graham Hansen, Reiten, Bjelde, Harviken, Maanum, Haavi, Haug.
Preamble
Good morning, afternoon or evening depending on where you are reading from. You tune into this Group A clash between Norway and the Philippines which will help determine who goes through with this being the nations final group match.
Switzerland v New Zealand will kick-off at the same time to ensure no team has an advantage over the other. As things stand Switzerland top the group with four points, New Zealand are second with three, Philippines are third with three and Norway are bottom with one. Any of the four teams could qualify and here’s how it would play out with all the permutations:
Switzerland win - through
Switzerland draw - through
Switzerland lose - they would need the other game to draw or for Norway to win by less than three goals.
NZ win - through
NZ draw - they would need the other game to draw or for Norway to win by a goal (they would then be tied on points and goal difference so it would come down to amount of goals scored, then head-to-head)
NZ lose - out
Norway win - Would need Switzerland to win, if New Zealand won Norway would have to win by more than two goals or the other game to draw and win by more than a goal
Norway draw - out
Norway lose -out
Philippines win - through
Philippines draw - need Switzerland to win
Philippines lose - out
A lot to keep an eye on! Let’s get to the team news.
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