2023-07-20 11:45:48
Starts on Australia and New Zealand World Cup and honors the victims of this morning’s shooting in Auckland with a match to go down in history. The hostess, before 40,000 spectators, celebrates her first victory in a World Cup, female or male, in 32 years, in 16 attempts.
New Zealand 1 Norway 0
They do it against a Norway that still doesn’t see the goal, dry the aim of the Nordics who had, on paper, the label of favorite in this opening match. Due to her greater experience and the doubts with which the co-host arrived, only four victories in the last 25 games.
But it is the New Zealanders who dominate the wind at Eden Park and come out emboldened by a crowd that has never had so many seats full to watch a women’s football match (record with 42,137 spectators). With enthusiasm and a lot of mobility, they were in charge of always taking the initiative in the attacks and stopping the possibilities of a diminished Norway and without orientation in the center of the field and who always collided with Bowen and Stott, very firm as a barrier behind.
New Zealand had from minute 5, a shot by Wilkinson, several chances to open the scoring, especially another header from the forward who went just wide, but that greater push was consolidated in the second half. A goal from Wilkinson in the center of the area from a pass from the squad and a square from Jacqui Hand unleashed madness in the stands.
There were still 40 minutes left, but the tonic didn’t budge. The Ferns dominated, while Norway hardly had any opportunities for danger. For 75 minutes it was only the locals who moved the ball, enjoyed themselves and made people enjoy themselves. Only in the last quarter of an hour was Norway at the height of that team that was world champion in 1995. Hansen managed to hit the crossbar with his shot from outside the area and put the tension on the body of the locals.
However, all that tension was going to be released when the referee verified in the VAR that the Seinmetz center touched it with Hansen’s hand. Percival was in charge of shooting it, but the ball crashed into the crossbar and thus perpetuates the bad run of missed penalties by New Zealand in its history. And they still had to endure those last nine minutes of added time with their strength clearly diminished against a Norway that refused to be defeated.
The final whistle confirmed this victory for the history of New Zealand football, the first win in a World Cup, male or female.
«I am so proud, we have fought it for so long. I would like to inspire all the girls around the world, everything is possible. We wanted to do something positive on a day like today and show our respect for the victims,” Ali Riley said.
The coach, Jitka Klimkova, was also proud: «I am very proud and happy for the players, the fans, the team. I can only say thank you for the support because we couldn’t have done it without them. They’ve played amazing, we knew we could, and we’ve done it. What a start to the tournament!”
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