By Victor Kanayo
Two host nations – Australia and New Zealand kicked off their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on victorious note on Thursday.
In their opening match, Australia laboured initially in the absence of injured captain Sam Kerr but a second-half penalty from Steph Catley got them off to a solid start with a 1-0 win over Ireland in Group B.
The news that striker Kerr had been ruled out by a calf injury stunned the record crowd of 75,784 as it filtered into Stadium Australia but Catley stepped up to take the captain’s armband and score the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.
Ireland, cheered on by a noisy band of compatriots, made life difficult for the Australians with their compact defence and came close to forcing an equaliser during a period of sustained pressure late in the second half.
Earlier in the day, co-hosts New Zealand defeated former champions Norway 1-0 in their opening game.
Hannah Wilkinson was the hero as her strike three minutes into the second-half, earned New Zealand a first-ever win at the senior Women’s World Cup.
Wilkinson finished off from close range thanks to a laser-like cross from Jacqui Hand.
New Zealand will face debutants the Philippines on Tuesday in a match that had widely been seen as their best chance of winning in Group A.
Before the opening game, Auckland, the largest City in New Zealand witnessed blood shed as gunman’s invasion led to the death of two, with five others reportedly injured.
