New Zealand receives historic win in Women’s World Cup

In the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup New Zealand receives their historic win in stunning style against Norway as they won on the global stage for the first time on Thursday (20 July). On a memorable night in Auckland, the Football Ferns produced a huge upset after Hannah Wilkinson swept home Jacqui Hand's cross in front of an ecstatic crowd of 42,137 at Eden Park - a record for a football match in New Zealand.

During the match Even Ria Percival's on 89th minute missed penalty, after a handball by Tuva Hansen, failed to dampen the celebrations.

Observed while running the match fans turned up in their tens of thousands to cheer their side who had failed to win any of their previous 15 World Cup games.

Finall they were rewarded when Wilkinson broke the deadlock in the 48th minute to spark joyous scenes in the stands.

On the other hand 1995 world champions Norway should have equalised soon after Wilkinson's goal but Arsenal's Frida Maanum poked a glorious chance wide.

But the counter attack from New Zealand team seen as toe to toe with their opponents and it required a diving save by Aurora Mikalsen to prevent Ali Riley from doubling the lead.

New Zealand had waited three years for this moment since being named co-hosts with Australia in 2020.

Fifa predict this tournament will be watched by two billion people globally on television and, with the eyes of the world on Eden Park for the opening game, the home crowd lapped up the occasion.

Wilkinson was the last New Zealand player to score for her country at a World Cup - back in 2015 in Canada.

To the contrary the Norway boss Hege Riise said on the eve of the tournament that her team was relishing the challenge of playing in front of a partisan home crowd.

But she refused to blame that on her team's under-par display. She added, "some players slept through it," added Riise. "It hasn't affected us in how we performed in the game. We didn't get any momentum at all."

Earlier at Euro 2022, Norway were embarrassed 8-0 by England and lost to Austria.

In today’s match Norway had 12 attempts, including two in the final few moments, but could not able to click on the net.