In a historic victory for the New Zealand national soccer team, the women’s squad achieved their first-ever win at a World Cup competition by defeating the heavily favored Norway with a thrilling 1-0 scoreline in the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The game took place amidst a poignant moment of silence to honor the victims of a tragic shooting in Auckland, which occurred just miles away from the World Cup venue at Eden Park. Despite the unsettling incident, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reassured that the tournament would proceed as planned, and the match between the 26th-ranked New Zealand and 12th-ranked Norway set a remarkable record for attendance in any soccer match in the nation’s history, with over 42,100 spectators present.
The intense Group A clash saw the game remain locked until the 48th minute when New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson netted a crucial goal at close range, skillfully converting a cross from teammate Jacqui Hand. As the game neared its end, a penalty kick opportunity arose for New Zealand, which could have secured an additional goal, but Ria Percival’s shot hit the crossbar in the 90th minute, leaving the scoreline unchanged. Meanwhile, co-host Australia is set to face Ireland in Sydney for Group B’s first match later in the day, promising further excitement and action in the women’s soccer tournament.
