New Zealand 1-0 Norway: Co-hosts open World Cup with stunning win courtesy of Hannah Wilkinson goal

A fantastic move, finished beautifully by Hannah Wilkinson, gave New Zealand a shock win - their first in 16 World-Cup matches – over a miserable Norway, in the rip-roaring start the competition demanded. They are now in control of Group A, while Norway, in grave danger of elimination, have a lot of thinking to do.

As is often the case with apparently underpowered hosts, New Zealand began very well, fired by the occasion and buzz of the crowd. They were by far the better side in a dull first half, creating little but dominating territory and limiting their more-vaunted opponents to very little. However there were flashes, generally inspired by Caroline Graham Hansen, which suggested that Norway’s class might eventually tell.

It did not. Rather, New Zealand grew in confidence, throwing more players forward, and on 48 minutes, they fashioned a glorious rush of a goal, a move that began with a goalkick screeching its way downfield, where Wilkinson caressed home a fine finish following fine work from Jacqui Hand.

Nor could Norway really raise it thereafter, a second goal looking more likely than an equaliser – and, in the final minute of normal time, they ought to have scored it, winning a penalty after Tuva Hansen handled on the edge of the box. But Ria Percival planted her kick onto the crossbar, meaning her side had to see out a nervous period of stoppage time before exploding in joy and relief at the final whistle.

Given the other two teams in the group are Philippines and Switzerland, Norway will still hope to progress, but if they do not improve by many orders of magnitude, at the end of the group stages they will be heading home in embarrassment – as happened in the Euros. New Zealand, meanwhile, are flying.

At the Euros, Norway were walloped 8-0 by England, a humiliating reverse, and ended up failing to qualify from their group after losing to Austria in the final game.

So they ought to have arrived at this World Cup with a point to prove, except they began as if still jetlagged, slow to the ball, disorganised in defence and sporadic in attack. Given the talent they have – Caroline Graham Hansen, one of the best players in the world; a terrific midfield including Guru Reiten and Frida Maanum; Maren Mjelde; and the returning Aga Hegerberg – they should be good enough to give any team trouble.

But the way they played today was so soporific as to suggest all is not well in the camp, and Hege Riise’s inability to affect matters after a dreadful first half was extremely troubling. They still have the class to do something at this competition – remember Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the men’s event – but the problems look to run deeper than a one-off poor performance.

Hannah Wilkinson (New Zealand) Led the line, softening up Norway with her intelligent running, movement and hold-up play, the despatched a nerveless finish to set the tournament alight.

New Zealand: Esson 7, Bott 8, Stott 8, Bowen 7, A Riley 6, Hassett 7, Percival 6, Steinmetz 8, I-P Riley 6, Wilkinson 9, Hand 9. Subs: Rennie 6, Bunge 6, Satchell 6.

Norway: Mikalsen 6, Bjelde 6, Mjelde 5, Harviken 6, Hansen 5, Engen 5, Maanum 4, Reiten 3, Graham Hansen 4, Hegerberg 4, Blakstad 3. Subs: Haavi 7, Risa 6, Sonstevold 6.

Hannah Wilkinson has now scored in three different editions of the ‪World Cup (2011, 2015 and 2023), while no other New Zealand player has done so in more than one.

20’ - MUCH BETTER FROM NORWAY! Blackstad skates around Bott and slings over a tasty cross, nodded down by Hegerberg, and Maanum, arriving onto the ball, should do better than thrash over the top from the edge.

48’ - WHAT A GOAL! New Zealand 1-0 Norway (Wilkinson) THE HOSTS HAVE DONE IT! THE HOSTS HAVE DONE IT! OH I SAY! A goalkick is clipped out to Bott wide down the right, the ball makes its way inside to Percival who releases Hand, screeching down the wing ... and Wilkinson is in the middle! The low cross is perfect, and with Mikalsen expecting a swept finish into the far corner, the striker opens body to arc a riser into the opposite side of the net and that is a rolling, roiling buzz of a move, no more than New Zealand deserve!

62’ - THERE ARE SIGNS That Norway are improving ... but NZ are too, and when Hand does really well to win the bll high and send it wide, Riley takes a touch that brings her in on her left foot and she sends a curler towards the far top corner, but Mikalsen tips away with her top hand. The corner causes minor panic, Hassett retrieving possession and clipping a reverse-pass down the side of the box, for Bott ... who slips.

81’ - BUT NOW HERE COME NORWAY! Haavi works a shooting opportunity for Hansen who, from distance, punches a sidefooter ... which Esson tips superbly onto the bar, that top hand again coming over to do the hard work!

89’ - HELLO! STEINMETZ CROSSES, HANSEN HANDLES ... IS IT IN THE BOX?! VAR wants a look and I don't think the issue is whether there was an offence, rather whether it was inside the area! I think it was you know, and the ref will have a look, then announce the verdict! This is incredible! AND IT'S A PENALTY! In a pioneering move, the ref communicates the call over the PA! Here comes Percival...

89’ - PERCIVAL HITS THE BAR! She opens body and her lofted effort is almost perfect ... almost! It cannons back off the bar, and NZ must now hold on for their win! Pressure! Drama! What a match this is!