Women’s World Cup: Major Upset As New Zealand Defeats Norway In The Tournament’s Opening Match
Women's World Cup: Major Upset As New Zealand Defeats Norway In The Tournament's Opening Match
The 2023 Women’ World Cup tournament kicks off with a major upset as co-host natiom, New Zealand defeats Norway in an highly entertaining opening match on Thursday.
The victory is New Zealand’s first win in tournament history, having failed to win a game at their five previous World Cup appearances.
Star forward, Hannah Wilkinson fired home from close range from Jacqui Hand’s pinpoint cross in the 48th minute to secure a memorable victory.
Norway responded impressively to the setback and threw players forward in search of an equaliser, but the stout New Zealand defence held firm.
“I am so, so proud. We have been fighting for this for so long.”
“There were a lot of doubters because of the [recent] results we had, but we believed — we believed in ourselves this entire game,” New Zealand co-captain Ali Riley said.
“We wanted to bring something positive tonight and we thought of the victims and the first responders and they made us so proud and we just wanted to just help bring something amazing today,” Riley said.
Co-hosts Australia will also open their World Cup campaign on Thursday in Sydney against Ireland.
However, they will be without captain Sam Kerr, who was ruled out of two games after picking up a calf injury in training a day earlier.
