- Host nation New Zealand stunned Norway in the opening match of the 2023 Women's World Cup.
- The Football Ferns earned their first World Cup goal and their country's first WC win with the upset.
New Zealand made history three times over in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup.
The No. 26 Football Ferns stunned superstar Ada Hegerberg and her 12th-ranked Norway squad 1-0 Thursday, scoring their team's first-ever World Cup goal and earning their country's first-ever World Cup victory on their home soil. A record-breaking crowd of 42,137 fans flocked to Auckland's Eden Park stadium to watch history unfold, marking the largest-ever audience for a soccer game in New Zealand's history.
Ali Riley — the Ferns' captain — couldn't conceal her emotions when the final whistle sounded. She stood on the pitch with her hands on her head and took it all in:
—the no. 77 (@serotobin1) July 20, 2023
During her post-match interview, Riley — who plays club for Angel City of the National Women's Soccer League — struggled to sum up the magnitude of the moment. With tears in her eyes and a smile plastered on her face, the defender said that she's "so, so proud" of what she and her teammates had accomplished moments before.
"We've been fighting for this for so long," Riley said. "We had a clear goal that we wanted to inspire young girls, young people around this country and around the world, and I really think we did that tonight."
"Anything is possible!" she added.
—FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 20, 2023
After a scoreless first half, New Zealand broke through in the 48th minute thanks to a stunning goal from Hannah Wilkinson. The striker made a well-timed run through center field while teammate Jacqui Hand dribbled the ball up the right flank.
As Hand fired a low cross through the 18-yard box, Wilkinson managed to split a pair of Norwegian defenders and get her foot on the ball first. She fired a one-touch shot into the back of the net, etching her name in the Ferns record books forever.
—FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 20, 2023
New Zealand is set to take on the Philippines on Tuesday and Switzerland July 30 to round out the group stage of the tournament. But with Thursday's win over a team widely expected to prevail in the group, the Ferns are well positioned to become their country's first national soccer team to advance to a World Cup knockout round.