In a historic moment, Hannah Wilkinson scored in the 48th minute, securing New Zealand’s first-ever victory in the Women’s World Cup. The match took place in Auckland, New Zealand, and was a thrilling win for the host country. The photo capturing the celebration was taken by How Hwee Young/EPA-EFE.
July 20 (UPI) — The Women’s World Cup kicked off in Auckland, New Zealand, with an unexpected upset. New Zealand, ranked 26th, defeated Norway, ranked 12th, with a lone goal by Hannah Wilkinson in the 48th minute. The match took place at Eden Park and set the stage for host country success in the tournament.
This victory was particularly significant for New Zealand, as it marked their first-ever win in the Women’s World Cup. In their previous 15 appearances, dating back to 1991, the New Zealand team had struggled with a record of 0-12-3. The men’s team has also faced difficulties, with a record of 0-3-3 in two World Cup appearances.
Reflecting on the win, Wilkinson expressed gratitude for the support of the nation, stating, “We knew we had the nation behind us. We really felt the support of New Zealand. I felt that made such a big difference.”
Norway had several opportunities to score throughout the first half of the match. However, it was Wilkinson who capitalized on a perfectly executed play. Jacqui Hand initiated a curling run into Norway territory and delivered a precise pass to Wilkinson. With excellent positioning and skill, Wilkinson found the back of the net, leaving Norway goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen unable to block the shot.
The match continued with both teams pressing for goals, but New Zealand held on to their slim lead. In the 89th minute, Norway committed a handball offense, giving New Zealand a penalty kick. However, midfielder Ria Percival hit the crossbar, denying them a chance to extend their lead.
In their next Group A match, New Zealand will face the 46th-ranked Philippines, while Norway will take on Switzerland in their Group A fixture. The Women’s World Cup promises more thrilling matches ahead.
Later on the same day, Australia secured a 1-0 victory over Ireland in their Group B match. Left back Stephanie Catley converted a penalty kick in the 52nd minute, breaking the deadlock and securing the win for the 10th-ranked Australian team.
Australia dominated the match, consistently threatening the Ireland net. Their breakthrough came when they were awarded a penalty kick due to a foul in the box. Catley confidently stepped up and powered the shot into the left side of the net, outmaneuvering Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
Despite Ireland’s attempts to equalize with corner kicks and a free kick, they were unable to find the back of the net. Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made crucial saves, preserving the 1-0 victory for her team.
Australia will face Nigeria in their upcoming Group B match, while Ireland will take on Canada. The Women’s World Cup is off to an exciting start, and fans can look forward to more intense matches in the coming days.
There will be three more Women’s World Cup games on Friday, including the highly anticipated match between the top-ranked United States and Vietnam. The group stage will continue until August 3rd, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final on August 19th.
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