New Zealand upset Norway in FIFA Women’s World Cup opener

AUCKLAND – Hannah Wilkinson’s second-half purpose gave New Zealand a shock 1-0 win over former champions Norway at Eden Park on Thursday because the co-hosts claimed their first ever victory at a Women’s World Cup.

The Football Ferns had didn’t win a recreation at their 5 earlier World Cup appearances however Wilkinson fired house from shut vary from Jacqui Hand’s pinpoint cross within the forty eighth minute to offer them the lead.

Norway, champions in 1995, have been disappointing and disjointed and barely seemed as if they’d get again on degree phrases.

Their finest likelihood got here from a right-footed shot from Tuva Hansen, which ricocheted off the crossbar within the 81st minute.

New Zealand’s Ria Percival had the possibility to place the sport out of attain however her penalty within the ninetieth minute hit the crossbar.

Norway threw gamers ahead looking for an equaliser however the stout Ferns defence held agency.

“This is not what we had anticipated,” stated Norway captain Maren Mjelde. “We woke up the last 25 minutes but it was too late.”

The crowd of 42,137 – a report for a soccer match in New Zealand – set free a deafening roar because the match got here to an finish, with coach Jitka Klimkova burying her face in her fingers as her gamers celebrated.

The win put New Zealand heading in the right direction towards their purpose of getting out of the group stage of the match. They face debutants the Philippines on Tuesday in a match that had extensively been seen as their finest likelihood of profitable in Group A.

Co-hosts Australia are set to open their World Cup marketing campaign afterward Thursday in Sydney.

—Reuters