Co-hosts New Zealand began the Women’s World Cup with an almighty shock as they beat Norway 1-0 to record the country’s first win at a finals.
Neither the New Zealand men’s nor the women’s team had claimed a World Cup finals victory before, but Hannah Wilkinson finished off a superb team goal three minutes after half-time to seal a historic victory.
Norway, the 1995 World Cup winners, were poor on the ball with Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum guilty of missing two big chances in either half. Late on, Tuvan Hansen was denied a late equaliser by New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson, who tipped a long-range effort onto the crossbar.
New Zealand had a great chance to seal the victory when they were awarded a late penalty by VAR – with referee Yoshimi Yamashita addressing the 42,137-strong crowd via the loudspeaker about the decision under new regulations being trialled by FIFA. Ferns midfielder Ria Percival, however, struck the bar with the spot-kick
But the evening still belonged to New Zealand who, in front of a record crowd for a women’s football match in their country, held firm despite 10 minutes of stoppage time to get the Women’s World Cup up and running in style.
How New Zealand made history
Before kick-off, both sets of players held a minute’s silence at Auckland’s Eden Park to reflect on the devastating incident in the city earlier in the day where two people and a gunman lost their lives.
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Sky News’ Jessica Maggio reports from Auckland after two people and a gunman were killed in the city on the eve of the Women’s World Cup
On the pitch, New Zealand came out energised as co-hosts and created an early chance for striker Wilkinson.
The forward was played through down the right of the area but a heavy touch ruined the angle for her. Wilkinson’s low cross was cleared as far as Malia Steinmetz who blazed over.
In a first half which frustrated Norway, the former World Cup champions produced just two chances of note. The first fell to Maanum, who blasted over from the edge of the area after good work down the left from Julie Blakstad.
Former Ballon D’Or winner Ada Hegerberg would be the next to be denied as she was fed in the box by Caroline Graham Hansen but a brilliant block by Rebekah Stott denied the forward a guaranteed goal.
Norway failed to improve at the start of the second half as New Zealand started it brightly and took the lead almost instantly.
Wilkinson tapped home after a superb team move in Auckland
A superb goal-kick routine saw Jacqueline Hand played through down the right. With the Norway defence stretched, Hand got her head up to spot Wilkinson in the box and she tapped home an easy finish.
Norway tried to respond as Hegerberg sprinted down the left and crossed for Maanum, who somehow missed from a few yards out by rolling her close-range effort wide.
Yet it was New Zealand who kept on coming as Indiah-Paige Riley’s curling effort was destined for the top corner, only for Aurora Mikalsen to tip the ball over for a corner.
New Zealand’s Ria Percival reacts after missing a penalty
Percival then missed one of two chances to seal the game when she latched onto Wilkinson’s lay-off from the edge of the box but the Tottenham midfielder fired wide.
Norway came within inches of an equaliser when Hansen curled an effort goalwards and struck the crossbar, via the smallest of touches by New Zealand goalkeeper Esson.
But Hansen would end up with her head in her hands a few minutes later as she was penalised for handling in the box by VAR, with referee Yamashita being called to the monitor before informing the crowd of her decision through the PA system.
Percival, however, could only strike the top of the crossbar from the penalty – perhaps the only thing that did not go New Zealand’s way on opening night.
What is the schedule?
The group stage has begun and runs over a two-week period finishing on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals, which will be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.
The first semi-final will then be played on August 15 in Auckland, with the other semi-final taking place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
