New Zealand 1-0 Norway: Football Ferns claim historic first Women's World Cup win

New Zealand are appearing astatine their sixth Women's World Cup but had not won a crippled astatine the tourney earlier this match

Co-hosts New Zealand opened the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup successful stunning benignant against Norway arsenic they won connected the planetary signifier for the archetypal time.

Even Ria Percival's 89th-minute missed penalty, aft a handball by Tuva Hansen, failed to dampen the celebrations.

Fans turned up successful their tens of thousands to cheer their broadside who had failed to triumph immoderate of their erstwhile 15 World Cup games.

They were rewarded erstwhile Wilkinson broke the deadlock successful the 48th infinitesimal to spark joyous scenes successful the stands.

Norway, the 1995 satellite champions, should person equalised soon aft Wilkinson's extremity but Arsenal's Frida Maanum poked a glorious accidental wide.

New Zealand went toed to toed with their opponents and it required a diving prevention Aurora Mikalsen by to forestall Ali Riley from doubling the lead.

There was a minute's soundlessness earlier kick-off for the victims of a deadly shooting successful Auckland earlier connected Thursday.

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World Cup disconnected to a flying start

New Zealand had waited 3 years for this infinitesimal since being named co-hosts with Australia successful 2020.

Fifa foretell this tourney volition beryllium ticker by 2 cardinal radical globally connected tv and, with the eyes of the satellite connected Eden Park for the opening game, the location assemblage lapped up the occasion.

There were affectional scenes arsenic Percival and Riley, who are some appearing astatine their 5th World Cup, fought backmost tears during the nationalist anthems.

When play did commencement aft an opening ceremonial that ended with a spectacular fireworks display, Mexican Waves broke retired successful the crowd.

There were screams from the stands each clip the location broadside threatened, portion Brighton defender Rebekah Stott received a lasting ovation for a wonderfully-times situation to contradict Ada Hegerberg the opening extremity of the tournament.

But it was thing compared to the sound that greeted Wilkinson's goal.

Wilkinson was the past New Zealand subordinate to people for her state astatine the 2015 World Cup connected location soil.

The location broadside had to endure 9 minutes of stoppage clip earlier they could observe an unforgettable victory.

Poor Norway neglect to deliver

Norway brag Hege Riise said connected the eve of the tourney that her squad was relishing the situation of playing successful beforehand of a partisan location crowd.

Yet her broadside failed to present and present look a pugnacious lucifer against Switzerland successful Hamilton adjacent Tuesday arsenic they look to debar different aboriginal tourney exit.

At Euro 2022, they were embarrassed 8-0 by England and mislaid to Austria.

And they find themselves playing catch-up erstwhile again successful New Zealand contempt the array of idiosyncratic endowment astatine their disposal.

Norway had 12 attempts, including 2 successful the last fewer moments, but could not find the net, with their players looking devastated astatine the last whistle.

More to follow.

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