AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JULY 20: Indiah-Paige Riley of New Zealand and Emilie Haavi of Norway compete for the ball during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park on July 20, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
New Zealand 1-0 Norway
AUCKLAND, NZL—Rugby is considered religion in New Zealand, but at rugby’s cathedral Eden Park, the largest crowd to watch a soccer game in New Zealand saw the Football Ferns get their first ever World Cup win—men’s or women’s —over Norway, 1-0 in front of 42,137 fans for the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The first half was energetic from both sides with end-to-end action, though neither team would get a shot on target. The best chance came to Norway’s Frida Maanum who had space in the 20th minute in front of goal, but skied it over the bar.
In the second half, New Zealand started the better of the two sides and struck three minutes in. Jacqui Hand came down the right flank and found Hannah Wilkinson in the middle for an easy finish.
From there, both teams were pressing for goals. Maanum has a second chance at goal, but pushed her effort wide in the 59th minute from close range. Indiah-Paige Riley had a chance to double New Zealand’s advantage two minutes later, but Aurora Mikalsen would make a diving save.
The bar would be struck at either end. Tuva Hansen shot from distance, but Victoria Esson would barely get fingertips on it to tip it on to the bar.
The Ferns’ best chance to double the lead came via VAR after it determined Hansen handled a ball in the box. However, Rita Percival—who missed a chance earlier—would strike her spot kick off the bar.
Norway had one last chance to equalize in stoppage time, but Guro Reiten would waste it by shooting wide and New Zealand would go on to make history and now have a good chance to get to the Round of 16.
It was a positive end to a day that started with tragedy after a shooting incident at a construction site in downtown Auckland took the lives of two people (plus the shooter) and injured six. Flags at Eden Park were at half staff in memoriam and a minute’s silence was observed.
“This morning something really really tragic happened and we wanted to bring something positive tonight and we thought of the victims and the first responders and they made us so proud and we just wanted to just help bring something amazing today,” said New Zealand captain Ali Riley.
“I am so so proud we have been fighting for this for so long. We had a clear goal to inspire young girls, young people around this country and the world, I really think we did that tonight. Anything is possible.
“There were a lot of doubters because of the results we had but we believed, we believed in ourselves this entire game. We showed it and we played with confidence. The finish, this is what dreams are made of.”
Arizona State’s Gabi Rennie got onto the pitch for a few minutes earning her 28th cap for the Football Ferns. Rennie is one of 17 college players in the Women’s World Cup.
“It was quite the transition playing from college to playing in front of a big, big home crowd,” said Rennie. “I’m just so grateful for this opportunity.
“It was awesome [getting onto the pitch]. I just had a job to do. We were 1-0 up, so we just had to hold the game out and defend my heart out. It was just awesome and when that final whistle blew, absolute relief and it was a very awesome moment to share with an awesome bunch of people.”
New Zealand now go on to play the Philippines in Wellington on Tuesday (12:30am CT, FS1/NBC Universo) while Norway will look to recover against Switzerland in Hamilton, also on Tuesday (3am CT, FS1/Telemundo).
SCORING SUMMARY:
NZL-Hannah Wilkinson (Hand) 48
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NOR-Emilie Haavi (caution, reckless foul) 85
NEW ZEALAND (4-1-2-3): #21-Victoria Esson; #4-CJ Bott, #13- Rebekah Stott (#3-Claudia Bunge 70), #14-Katie Bowen, #7-Ali Riley; #2-Rita Percival; #12- Betsy Hasset, #6-Malia Steinmetz; #20-Indiah-Paige Riley, #17-Hannah Wilkinson (#15-Paige Satchell 86), #16-Jacqui Hand (#9-Gabi Rennie 90+4)
Subs not used: #1-Erin Nayler, #23-Anna Leat, #5-Michaela Foster, #8-Daisy Cleverey, #10-Annalie Longo, #11-Olivia Chance, #18-Grace Jale, #19-Elizabeth Anton, #22-Milly Clegg
NORWAY (4-3-3): #23-Aurora Mikalsen; #13-Thea Bjelde (#2-Anja Sonstevold 90+3), #6-Maren Mjelde, #16-Mathilde Harviken, #4-Tuva Hansen; #18-Frida Maanum (#8-Vilde Boa Risa 75), #7-Ingrid Engen, #11-Guro Reiten; #10-Carolina Graham Hansen, #14-Ada Hegerberg, #17-Julie Blakstad (#20-Emilie Haavi 56)
Subs not used: #1-Cecilie Fiskerstrand, #12-Guro Pettersen, #3-Sara Horte, #5-Guro Bergsvand, #9-Karina Saevik, #15-Amalie Eikeland, #19-Marit Bratberg Lund, #21-Anna Josendal, #22-Sophie Roman Haug
TOTAL SHOTS: NZL 11-11 NOR
SHOTS ON GOAL: NZL 2-2 NOR
FOULS: NZL 5-15 NOR
OFFSIDES: NZL 3-2 NO
CORNER KICKS: NZL 8-2 NOR
SAVES: NZL 2-1 NOR
Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN)
Assistant Referees: Makoto Bozono (JPN), Naomi Teshirogi (JPN)
4th Official: Ivana Martincic (CRO)
VAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)
Assistant VARs: Carol Ann Chenard (CAN), Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
Attendance: 42,137
Woman of the Match: Hannah Wilkinson (NZL)
