Women’s World Cup Day 1: Co-hosts thrill crowds with big opening wins

Football
Published 20.07.2023
Women’s World Cup Day 1: Co-hosts thrill crowds with big opening wins

The FIFA Women’s World Cup lastly kicked off with motion between New Zealand and Norway and Australia and the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

With each of the host groups securing wins in entrance of record-breaking crowds, the competitors is predicted to solely hold heating up from right here on out.

The Results

New Zealand 1 – 0 Norway
Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland

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Main Talking Points

New Zealand welcomes house crowd with win

The Football Ferns couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to the event as they defeated Norway 1-0 in entrance of over 42,000 supporters at Eden Park in Auckland.

Hannah Wilkinson was the primary scorer of the event, discovering the again of the online shortly after the second half of motion started to safe what would find yourself because the game-winner. Teammate Ria Percival was unable to transform from the penalty spot late to double New Zealand’s lead.

Norway may arguably be New Zealand’s hardest opponent in Group A, which additionally options the Philippines and Switzerland. The win was New Zealand’s first-ever victory on the Women’s World Cup, after 16 tries.

Australia joins in on house crowd enjoyable

New Zealand wouldn’t be the one group to win in entrance of their house crowd as three hours later Australia kicked off and did the identical factor.

The Matildas had been with out Sam Kerr after she was sidelined attributable to a calf harm, and the group regarded shaky to start the sport as even at their finest on the counter-attack the powerful Irish defence was capable of take in their makes an attempt and hold the sport scoreless on the half.

But a penalty was awarded to Australia after Aussie winger Hayley Raso was taken down by Irish midfielder Marissa Sheva. Skipper Steph Catley stepped as much as the spot, and with ease put the ball previous goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan for the one objective of a tense match.

Goal of the Day

Hannah Wilkinson’s objective not solely was the primary objective of the Women’s World Cup and secured a win for the host nation, but in addition marked her in historical past for an additional purpose as she grew to become New Zealand’s all-time main objective scorer.

Moment of the Day

The Matildas not solely bought the win in entrance of their house crowd, however broke a report for attendance for a girls’s soccer match within the nation with over 75,000 individuals on the stadium to witness Catley’s objective in individual.

Quote of the Day

“We really wanted to inspire young girls across the nation and I think we did that tonight. We showed that anything is possible,” stated New Zealand captain Ali Riley after her group’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

Three Stars of the Day

1. Hannah Wilkinson, New Zealand: Scoring to safe the first-ever win for New Zealand on the Women’s World Cup in entrance of record-breaking crowds is a second that Wilkinson will always remember.

2. Steph Catley, Australia: The Arsenal defender performed all 90 minutes and scored the lone objective in her aspect’s win over the Republic of Ireland, with the group having to regroup after studying star participant Sam Kerr was unavailable for the match.

3. Rebekah Stott, New Zealand: Having to defend a six-time Champions League winner and the primary lady to win the Ballon d’Or in Ada Hergerberg isn’t straightforward, however Stott ensured that her aspect would have the ability to safe victory to open the competitors and make an announcement towards a gifted Norway group.

Looking Ahead

Continuing play for Group B, Canada will kick off their first match of the event towards Nigeria at 10:30 p.m. ET Thursday to open the motion of Matchday 2. That might be adopted by extra Group A motion between the Philippines and Switzerland at 1 a.m. ET on Friday and the primary match in Group C with Spain dealing with off towards Costa Rica at 3:30 a.m. ET.

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