The 2023 Women’s World Cup opened on Thursday and, at home, New Zealand surprised Norway with stifling pressing and a goal from Hannah Wilkinson (1-0). Favorites on paper, Ada Hegerberg’s teammates will have to reinvent themselves.
Published on: 07/20/2023 – 10:59
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A victory that will put a little balm in the heart of New Zealand. Still reeling from the shooting that broke out a few hours before the start of the World Cup, the New Zealand players gave their all on Thursday, July 20, to win their duel against Norway. Hannah Wilkinson found the flaw in the Scandinavian shell to give the country its first World Cup victory (1-0).
Due to the deadly shooting that took place just hours before the opening ceremony, the World Cup began with a moment of gravity: a minute of silence in tribute to the victims.
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Spectators at Auckland’s Eden Park don’t have to wait too long to see some action. Wilkinson escapes and overtakes Hansen and Harviken before trying to pull back. The Norwegian defense pushes back. In continuity, Norway responds with its Ballon d’Or, Ada Hegerberg, who crosses with the toe. Esson misses his exit, without this having any consequence (6th).
Wilkinson intenable
Without an observation round, the 2023 World Cup is therefore launched. New Zealand will look very high for the Norwegians who are struggling to get the ball out properly. The “Football Ferns” bravely play their chance to score their World Cup at home.
The New Zealanders benefit in particular from the speed of their center forward, Hannah Wilkinson, untenable in the first period. The Melbourne City striker undermines the Norwegian defender Harviken (13th, 31st).
The Norwegians, however favorites of group A, are struggling to realize their opportunities. Graham Hansen offers a raid on the right side and takes speed two defenders. She sets back for Hegerberg who cannot strengthen his recovery. Stott intervenes in front of her to counter the ball (36th).
It was Adam Hansen, in the oven and in the mill, who came to annihilate the rise of the captain of the Football Ferns, Ali Riley, sending the two teams back to a parity score in the locker room (39th).
The match came alive in the second half and New Zealand struck from the start. Launched by Jacquie Hand on the right side, Hand overtakes Harviken before serving back the inevitable Wilkinson from 6 meters. The latter only has to open her foot to send the ball into the net (1-0, 48th).
The Football Ferns are trying to capitalize and still pushing. They are even close to obtaining a penalty while the VAR is consulted for the first time in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The video assistance finally believes that there is no hand from Harviken (53rd).
Norway does not admit defeat. Hegerberg finds Haavi in the area who delivers for Maanum at the near post. The Arsenal midfielder takes the ball and his shot grazes the post (59th).
But the end of the match is to the advantage of the New Zealanders who completely stifle their opponents. Mikalsen is forced to shine against Indiah-Page Riley (63rd) then Percival, served by Wilkinson, sends his shot just wide (76th).
Norway almost come back to score but Hansen’s strike finds the opposing crossbar (81st). The Norwegians will not get a better chance afterwards, even in the last ten long minutes of added time. The Fougères, on the contrary, will have the opportunity to finish the job thanks to a penalty obtained on a hand from Hansen, who had the misfortune to be on the trajectory of a strike from Steinmetz. But Percival applies too much and finds the crossbar (89th).
New Zealand finally overcame their Indian sign which left them in 15 matches without a World Cup victory. And offers the right to believe in historic round of 16 for the country of the Kiwis.
