Tournament co-hosts, New Zealand, have been knocked out of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup as the fellow co-hosts, Switzerland, got the draw they needed to advance as Group A winners.
New Zealand began the day in second position in the group, but Norway moved above them, thanks to a convincing 6-0 victory over the Philippines.
Jacqueline Hand hit the post for New Zealand but they could not get the win they needed to stay in the competition.
They become the first host nation to fail to make it past the group phase.
It was a tame and disappointing end to the tournament for New Zealand, who had beaten Norway 1-0 in the World Cup’s opening match.
A shock 1-0 loss on Tuesday in Wellington against the Philippines, the lowest ranked nation in Group A, left New Zealand’s qualification in the balance, although their fate was still in their hands before their final match in Dunedin.
But, in a game they needed to win, they failed to have a single shot on target in the opening 70 minutes against Switzerland.
With the Europeans themselves only one goal away from elimination, it became tight and tense with neither side able to create many clear-cut opportunities.
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