In the first game of the Women’s World Cup, which took place on Thursday, co-hosts New Zealand defeated Norway by a score of 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Hannah Wilkinson.
The victory was a historic one.
It was the first time that the nation had ever won the competition, and it took place in front of more than 42,000 people in Auckland, making it the largest crowd in the history of New Zealand football.
It took place at the conclusion of a day that began with New Zealand’s biggest city being jolted by a shooting that occurred in the morning and resulted in the deaths of three persons (the shooter, two civilians, and himself). The shooting took place in a downtown area near to where many World Cup teams, including the Norwegian squad, were staying.
Chris Hipkins, the prime minister of the nation that was hosting the tournament, was in attendance at Eden Park for the match with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. Prior to the game, a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of those who had passed away.
The Football Ferns, who together with Australia are co-hosting the inaugural Women’s World Cup with 32 teams, did not seem to be intimidated by the magnitude of the event as they went on to earn a victory that was well earned courtesy to Wilkinson’s early goal in the second half.
In New Zealand’s previous 15 matches in their five prior visits at the event, they had not won a single one of them, and they had decided that their modest goal for this time would be to break that terrible record.
They did so to the joy of a nearly sold-out audience of 42,137 supporters, a national record for any football match played in the country, regardless of whether it was a men’s or women’s competition. The match was played against the team that had previously won the World Cup.
On a night that was chilly, damp, and windy, their margin of victory might have been considerably higher if Ria Percival had not missed a late penalty.
With Switzerland and the Philippines, two teams considered to be underdogs, advancing out of Group A and into the knockout rounds is now a goal that may be considered achievable.
There was no effect from the shooting.
The performance of Norway, whose team was awakened up early by a helicopter and emergency vehicles reacting to the gunshot only metres away from their hotel, was unsatisfactory; nevertheless, coach Hege Riise denied that the morning’s events had influenced them in any way.
“There was absolutely nothing to be afraid about. “We had a pretty good idea that it was under control pretty early on,” Riise added.
“Some players slept through it, while others woke up, but we had a meeting with everyone early in the morning just to reassure them that they were safe.” That completed the exercise. Our performance in the game was unaffected by it in any way.”
“It was an opening game that we feel like we want to play one more time,” she continued. “It was a game that we feel like we want to play.”
New Zealand were the superior team in the first half, but they were unable to create anything that would genuinely challenge Norway’s goalkeeper, Aurora Mikalsen, despite playing at the home of their country’s all-conquering rugby union team and while wearing all black.
The breakthrough occurred three minutes after the game was restarted when the striker stationed in Australia, Wilkinson, redirected Jacqui Hand’s low pass into the box from the right side of the field into the back of the goal.
The match got underway when Norway, who had won the world championship in 1995, began searching for an equalizer. However, Frida Maanum was unable to score from a great position for whatever reason.
At the opposite end of the field, Indiah-Paige Riley had a good shot that was saved, but Ada Hegerberg, a past winner of the Ballon d’Or for women’s soccer, was not very animated.
Long-range shot taken by Tuva Hansen that was deflected over the crossbar by New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson was the attempt that came the closest to tying the score.
And it was Hansen’s handball that was eventually penalized after a VAR review late in the game, but Percival’s penalty kick that resulted from the infraction hit the bar in the 90th minute.In the first game of the Women’s World Cup, which took place on Thursday, co-hosts New Zealand defeated Norway by a score of 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Hannah Wilkinson. The victory was a historic one.
It was the first time that the nation had ever won the competition, and it took place in front of more than 42,000 people in Auckland, making it the largest crowd in the history of New Zealand football.
It took place at the conclusion of a day that began with New Zealand’s biggest city being jolted by a shooting that occurred in the morning and resulted in the deaths of three persons (the shooter, two civilians, and himself). The shooting took place in a downtown area near to where many World Cup teams, including the Norwegian squad, were staying.
Chris Hipkins, the prime minister of the nation that was hosting the tournament, was in attendance at Eden Park for the match with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. Prior to the game, a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of those who had passed away.
The Football Ferns, who together with Australia are co-hosting the inaugural Women’s World Cup with 32 teams, did not seem to be intimidated by the magnitude of the event as they went on to earn a victory that was well earned courtesy to Wilkinson’s early goal in the second half.
In New Zealand’s previous 15 matches in their five prior visits at the event, they had not won a single one of them, and they had decided that their modest goal for this time would be to break that terrible record.
They did so to the joy of a nearly sold-out audience of 42,137 supporters, a national record for any football match played in the country, regardless of whether it was a men’s or women’s competition. The match was played against the team that had previously won the World Cup.
On a night that was chilly, damp, and windy, their margin of victory might have been considerably higher if Ria Percival had not missed a late penalty.
With Switzerland and the Philippines, two teams considered to be underdogs, advancing out of Group A and into the knockout rounds is now a goal that may be considered achievable.
There was no effect from the shooting.
The performance of Norway, whose team was awakened up early by a helicopter and emergency vehicles reacting to the gunshot only metres away from their hotel, was unsatisfactory; nevertheless, coach Hege Riise denied that the morning’s events had influenced them in any way.
“There was absolutely nothing to be afraid about. “We had a pretty good idea that it was under control pretty early on,” Riise added.
“Some players slept through it, while others woke up, but we had a meeting with everyone early in the morning just to reassure them that they were safe.” That completed the exercise. Our performance in the game was unaffected by it in any way.”
“It was an opening game that we feel like we want to play one more time,” she continued. “It was a game that we feel like we want to play.”
New Zealand were the superior team in the first half, but they were unable to create anything that would genuinely challenge Norway’s goalkeeper, Aurora Mikalsen, despite playing at the home of their country’s all-conquering rugby union team and while wearing all black.
The breakthrough occurred three minutes after the game was restarted when the striker stationed in Australia, Wilkinson, redirected Jacqui Hand’s low pass into the box from the right side of the field into the back of the goal.
The match got underway when Norway, who had won the world championship in 1995, began searching for an equalizer. However, Frida Maanum was unable to score from a great position for whatever reason.
At the opposite end of the field, Indiah-Paige Riley had a good shot that was saved, but Ada Hegerberg, a past winner of the Ballon d’Or for women’s soccer, was not very animated.
Long-range shot taken by Tuva Hansen that was deflected over the crossbar by New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson was the attempt that came the closest to tying the score.
And it was Hansen’s handball that was eventually penalized after a VAR review late in the game, but Percival’s penalty kick that resulted from the infraction hit the bar in the 90th minute.