Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
New Zealand opens Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 upset over Norway on emotional 1st day in host nation
Hannah Wilkinson (New Zealand) celebrates the teams first goal during a Group A - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 game, New Zealand vs Norway, at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. Kim Price/CSM (Credit Image: © Kim Price/Cal Sport Media) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Latest News
July 20, 2023

New Zealand opens Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 upset over Norway on emotional 1st day in host nation

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — On a day that started with tragedy, the Football Ferns triumphed.

Hannah Wilkinson scored to open the second half and New Zealand went on to upset Norway 1-0 on Thursday for its first-ever win at the Women’s World Cup, hours after a shooting in downtown Auckland shocked the host nation.

A gunman stormed a high-rise construction site near Norway’s team hotel and opened fire, killing two people. The gunman was found dead after a police shootout.

There was increased security at Eden Park stadium, where 42,137 — a record crowd for a soccer match in New Zealand — were on hand to cheer on the home team, co-hosts of the tournament with Australia. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was among those at the game. He went into the locker room after the game and thanked the team for an inspirational performance.

After an opening ceremony that honored New Zealand’s Indigenous heritage, there was a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting. Four people were wounded in the attack, including a police officer.

New Zealand’s Football Ferns had played in five previous World Cups, but hadn’t won a match.

“We really wanted to inspire young girls across the nation and I think we did that tonight. We showed that anything is possible,” said captain Ali Riley, who had happy tears in her eyes.

Norway couldn’t finish off its chances in the first half while the Ferns defended well. Ada Hegerberg’s attempt in the 37th minute was deftly defended by Rebekah Stott and the match was scoreless after the first half.

The first woman to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, Hegerberg has 43 goals in 77 international appearances. Currently playing professionally for Lyon, she has scored a record 59 goals in the Champions League. But she couldn’t find the back of the net in Auckland.

Instead, Wilkinson scored in the opening moments of the second half. Jaqui Hand moved up the right side and placed a perfect cross at Wilkinson’s feet for the goal. While the home crowd wildly celebrated, Norway goalkeeper Aurora Mikalson stood with her hands on her hips.

Norway won the World Cup in 1995. At the last tournament in 2019, the team fell to England in the quarterfinals. At the Women’s Euro in 2022, England routed the Norwegians 8-0. In the run-up to this game, winger Caroline Graham Hansen called the World Cup a chance to “start fresh.”

Considered the favorites in Group A, the Norwegians went into the game 5-1-1 all-time against New Zealand, with the only loss coming in a 2019 exhibition match.

Norway coach Hege Riise said her players were not impacted by the shooting, despite the incident happened near their hotel.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

JFJ hails convictions, disappointed with ‘lenient’ sentence in Mario Deane case
Latest News, News
JFJ hails convictions, disappointed with ‘lenient’ sentence in Mario Deane case
July 3, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Advocacy group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has welcomed the “historic convictions” of three cops in the Mario Deane case but says ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bunting demands answers on ministry’s retracted statement, calls for Chung’s resignation from FID
Latest News, News
Bunting demands answers on ministry’s retracted statement, calls for Chung’s resignation from FID
July 3, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Senator Peter Bunting is expressing concern over the Ministry of Finance’s sudden withdrawal of a press release that ad...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump wins major victory as Congress passes flagship bill
Latest News, News
Trump wins major victory as Congress passes flagship bill
July 3, 2025
US President Donald Trump on Thursday secured a major political victory when Congress narrowly passed his signature tax and spending bill, cementing h...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
$7.5 m in Crime Stop rewards paid out last year
Latest News, News
$7.5 m in Crime Stop rewards paid out last year
July 3, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica—In 2024, Crime Stop Jamaica received 867 tips, resulting in $7.5 million in rewards – $6.3 million of which was paid under the Rewar...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NISOU serves up sweet treat with Kit Kat
Entertainment, Latest News
NISOU serves up sweet treat with Kit Kat
July 3, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Emerging recording artiste NISOU delivered a sweet treat with the release of her debut single Kit Kat , now available on all major...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
UTech auditorium gets $3.6 million donation in cooling equipment
Latest News, News
UTech auditorium gets $3.6 million donation in cooling equipment
July 3, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Students at the University of Technology (UTech) will now have access to a cooler and more comfortable space at the Alfred Sangste...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jota ‘will never be forgotten’, says heartbroken Slot
International News, Latest News
Jota ‘will never be forgotten’, says heartbroken Slot
July 3, 2025
Liverpool, United Kingdom (AFP)—Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Diogo Jota will be remembered as a "friend to everyone" after the Portuguese internat...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Netanyahu vows to uproot Hamas as ceasefire proposals are discussed
International News, Latest News, News
Netanyahu vows to uproot Hamas as ceasefire proposals are discussed
July 3, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP)—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to eradicate Hamas, even as the Palestinian mili...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct