Ghana after an exciting nine-goal thriller bow out of the FIFA Women's World Cup with defeat to Norway in Hangzhou on Thursday.

Norway cruised to a 7-2 win over Ghana to take the top spot in Group C and set up a possible quarterfinal meeting with host China.

Norway took advantage of very lax marking by Ghana to score three times in the first half.

Lene Storlokken scored in the fourth minute after a corner kick, Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored in the 39th minute and captain Ane Stangeland Horpestad converted a penalty in first-half injury time.

The victory gave Norway seven points in the group stage, ahead of Australia's five points. Canada finished with three points, while Ghana was last with zero points.

About 10 minutes into the second half, substitute Isabell Herlovsen brushed off a defender to send the ball by goalkeeper Gladys Enti.

Gulbrandsen then headed into an open net off a cross from Leni Larsen Kaurin, who had beaten Enti to the ball.

Gulbrandsen scored her third goal of the game several minutes later, putting a glancing header past Enti off a free kick.

It was Gulbrandsen's fifth goal of the tournament, making her the top scorer in this World Cup.

Substitute Lise Klaveness scored Norway's seventh goal in the 69th minute, several minutes before a beautiful chip by captain Adjoa Bayor gave Ghana its first goal.

Ghana got its second goal with 10 minutes remaining when Florence Okoe scored on a penalty kick.

Credit: ghanafa.org and AP