Women’s World Cup kicks off with New Zealand’s 1-0 win over Norway

WORLD 2023

Hannah Wilkinson secures victory for the Housewives

Thanks to a goal by Hannah Wilkinson, New Zealand defeated Norway by 1-0, this Thursday morning (20), at Eden Park, in Auckland, in the match that opened the 2023 edition of the Women’s Football World Cup. With the triumph, the New Zealand team took the lead in Group A of the World Cup with three points.

With one of the main players of the event, striker Ada Hegerberg, Norway was considered a favorite against the hosts. However, who did better in the first half was New Zealand, who created the first clear goal opportunity after four minutes with a long shot from the Steinmetz steering wheel, but the ball ended up going out of bounds.

For the Norwegians, the best opportunity in the initial stage came right from the feet of Ada Hegerberg, in the 36th minute, when Hansen found the center forward, who finished first, but Stott managed to cut it.

After the break, New Zealand turned their superiority into an advantage after just two minutes. The home team launched a quick counterattack on the right. Jacqui Hand sped forward and sent a low cross into the middle of the area, where center forward Hannah Wilkinson had only the trouble of shoring in a right wing to get past goalkeeper Mikalsen.

Norway almost tied at 13. Hegerberg made a good move on the left and found Haavi, who crossed for Maanum, who finished with danger. But four minutes later the hosts responded with a beautiful shot from outside the area by Indiah-Paige, which forced goalkeeper Mikalsen to stretch to make a great save.

Seeking equality, the Norwegian team began to offer spaces in defense, which the home team took advantage of to create good opportunities in quick transition plays, such as the one created in the 30th minute that ended in a bomb by Percival, who went out.

Five minutes later, the visitors created their best chance to score when Tuva Hansen struck first and the ball exploded off the crossbar in the goal saved by Esson. In the 44th minute, Percival had the opportunity to score New Zealand’s second, but the steering wheel wasted a penalty kick.

From then on, the home team showed a lot of will to hold the advantage until the final whistle to guarantee their first victory in a women’s soccer World Cup match.

Wilkinson’s goal started in the New Zealand goalkeeper. Fast and agile game, leaving Norway destabilized.#FIFAWWC #FIFAWomensWorldCup
pic.twitter.com/R28Uy9iM8h

— Recanto 🇧🇷🦋 (@recantoofc) July 20, 2023

Opening ceremony
Before the ball rolled, Eden Park was the stage for the opening ceremony of the competition, which featured a show – music and dance – that showed a little of the culture of the peoples from Oceania, which hosts the competition for the first time in history. The event also showcased the 32 teams participating in the Worlds.

In addition, the audience observed a minute of silence for the victims of a shooting that took place last Thursday night (19), near the hotel where the Norwegian national team was staying in Auckland, for the opening game of the Women’s World Cup.

Premiere of Brazil
The Brazilian team, which seeks the unprecedented title of the World Cup, will debut in the first phase of the competition starting at 8 am (Brasília time) next Monday. The confrontation against Panama is valid for Group F, which also has France and Jamaica.

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