New Zealand are appearing at their sixth Women's World Cup but had not won a game at the tournament before this matchCo-hosts New Zealand opened the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup in stunning style against Norway as they won on the global stage for the first time.
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.
Even Ria Percival's 89th-minute missed penalty, after a handball by Tuva Hansen, failed to dampen the celebrations.
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.
They were rewarded when Wilkinson broke the deadlock in the 48th minute to spark joyous scenes in the stands.
Norway, the 1995 world champions, should have equalised soon after Wilkinson's goal but Arsenal's Frida Maanum poked a glorious chance wide.
New Zealand went toe to toe with their opponents and it required a diving save Aurora Mikalsen by to prevent Ali Riley from doubling the lead.
There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the victims of a deadly shooting in Auckland earlier on Thursday.
World Cup off to a flying start
New Zealand had waited three years for this moment since being named co-hosts with Australia in 2020.
Fifa predict this tournament will be watch 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.
There were emotional scenes as Percival and Riley, who are both appearing at their fifth World Cup, fought back tears during the national anthems.
When play did start after an opening ceremony that ended with a spectacular fireworks display, Mexican Waves broke out in the crowd.
There were screams from the stands each time the home side threatened, while Brighton defender Rebekah Stott received a standing ovation for a wonderfully-times challenge to deny Ada Hegerberg the opening goal of the tournament.
But it was nothing compared to the noise that greeted Wilkinson's goal.
Wilkinson was the last New Zealand player to score for her country at the 2015 World Cup on home soil.
The home side had to endure nine minutes of stoppage time before they could celebrate an unforgettable victory.
More to follow.
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New Zealand
Squad number21Player nameEsson
Squad number4Player nameBott
Squad number13Player nameStott
Squad number14Player nameBowen
Squad number7Player nameRiley
Squad number20Player nameRiley
Squad number2Player namePercival
Squad number6Player nameSteinmetz
Squad number12Player nameHassett
Squad number16Player nameHand
Squad number17Player nameWilkinson
Squad number3Player nameBunge
Squad number9Player nameRennie
Squad number15Player nameSatchell
Norway
Squad number23Player nameMikalsen
Squad number13Player nameBjelde
Squad number6Player nameMjelde
Squad number16Player nameHarviken
Squad number4Player nameHansen
Squad number7Player nameEngen
Squad number18Player nameMaanum
Squad number11Player nameReiten
Squad number10Player nameGraham Hansen
Squad number14Player nameHegerberg
Squad number17Player nameBlakstad
Squad number2Player nameSønstevold
Squad number8Player nameBøe Risa
Squad number20Player nameHaavi
Line-ups
New Zealand
Formation 4-4-2
21Esson
4Bott13Stott14Bowen7Riley
20Riley2Percival6Steinmetz12Hassett
16Hand17Wilkinson
21Esson4Bott13StottSubstituted forBungeat 70'minutes14Bowen7Riley20Riley2Percival6Steinmetz12Hassett16HandSubstituted forRennieat 90+4'minutes17WilkinsonSubstituted forSatchellat 86'minutesSubstitutes
1Nayler3Bunge5Foster8Cleverley9Rennie10Longo11Chance15Satchell18Jale19Anton22Clegg23LeatNorway
Formation 4-3-3
23Mikalsen
13Bjelde6Mjelde16Harviken4Hansen
7Engen18Maanum11Reiten
10Graham Hansen14Hegerberg17Blakstad
23Mikalsen13BjeldeSubstituted forSønstevoldat 90+3'minutes6Mjelde16Harviken4Hansen7Engen18MaanumSubstituted forBøe Risaat 74'minutes11Reiten10Graham Hansen14Hegerberg17BlakstadSubstituted forHaaviat 56'minutesBooked at 85minsSubstitutes
1Fiskerstrand2Sønstevold3Hørte5Bergsvand8Bøe Risa9Sævik12Pettersen15Eikeland19Bratberg Lund20Haavi21Jøsendal22HaugReferee:Yoshimi YamashitaLive Text
Match ends, New Zealand 1, Norway 0.
Second Half ends, New Zealand 1, Norway 0.
Attempt saved. Ingrid Engen (Norway) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tuva Hansen.
Attempt blocked. Guro Reiten (Norway) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anja Sønstevold with a cross.
Attempt missed. Guro Reiten (Norway) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ada Hegerberg.
Attempt missed. Ada Hegerberg (Norway) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Emilie Haavi with a cross.
Offside, New Zealand. Paige Satchell tries a through ball, but Betsy Hassett is caught offside.
Substitution, New Zealand. Gabi Rennie replaces Jacqui Hand.
Substitution, Norway. Anja Sønstevold replaces Thea Bjelde because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Thea Bjelde (Norway).
Foul by Catherine Bott (New Zealand).
Emilie Haavi (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, New Zealand. Catherine Bott tries a through ball, but Paige Satchell is caught offside.
Foul by Paige Satchell (New Zealand).
Emilie Haavi (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Indiah-Paige Riley (New Zealand) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Penalty missed! Still New Zealand 1, Norway 0. Ria Percival (New Zealand) hits the bar with a right footed shot.
VAR Decision: Penalty New Zealand.
Penalty conceded by Tuva Hansen (Norway) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
