SHANGHAI - The United States put their goalkeeping row behind them with an emphatic 4-1 win over Norway to claim the World Cup’s third spot on Sunday.

With controversial ‘keeper Hope Solo axed for her outburst over the semi-final loss to Brazil, the two-time champions turned on the style with three goals in 14 second-half minutes.

US top-scorer Abby Wambach struck either side of the break with Lori Chalupny and Heather O’Reilly also weighing in before Ragnhild Gulbrandsen got her sixth of the tournament for Norway.

It was the perfect riposte by the US after the damaging goalkeeping controversy when Solo lashed coach Greg Ryan for replacing her for the 4-0 Brazil defeat, the heaviest in the team’s history.

“Today we completely relaxed and played some great and entertaining soccer,” said Ryan.

“I’m proud of my players and impressed with the way they have dealt with some difficulties this week and showed such unity and pulled together.

“I am thrilled to see Briana (Scurry) back between the posts and doing such a great job for us,” he added.

The Americans came out firing with old stager Kristine Lilly, playing her last World Cup match, repeatedly troubling Norway stopper Bente Nordby.

Wambach had a solid penalty appeal waved away before opening the scoring on the half-hour, deflecting Aly Wagner’s shot from a corner into the Norwegian net for her fifth goal of the tournament.

Norway’s top-scorer Gulbrandsen nodded past the stranded Scurry, under close scrutiny following the goalkeeper row, near half-time but the goal was mysteriously disallowed.

Wambach pounced again from another corner just after the break, tapping in the rebound from close range as Cat Whitehill hit the post.

Norway captain Ane Stangeland Horpestad’s clearance bounced off Chalupny for the United States’ third on 57 minutes and O’Reilly poached the fourth just a minute later.

Gulbrandsen looped a finely placed header over Scurry for Norway on 63 minutes after Camilla Huse’s high ball from the deep.

“The match today showed the difference between the fitness levels of the two teams at the end of a tournament,” said Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen.

“Their fitness was better. We played well but our defending was poor, particularly at the start of the second-half.”

Solo was barred even from the bench over her tirade against Ryan, slamming his “wrong decision” after she was surprisingly replaced by the veteran Scurry for the Brazil match.

Solo’s father Jeffrey, a military veteran who lived rough in woods near Seattle, died in June. She had scattered his ashes in the penalty area before each of her four World Cup starts.

It was the 1991 and 1999 champions’ 21st win in 40 meetings with Norway. The two teams had not met at the World Cup since the 1995 semi-finals, when Norway won on the way to their only title.