Co-hosts New Zealand won the opening game of the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, defeating Norway 1-0 in front of more than 42,000 people, the largest attendance in New Zealand football history.
Hannah Wilkinson scored the game-winning goal early in the second half at Eden Park, giving New Zealand’s women their first World Cup victory at the 16th attempt. For the home team, Ria Percival missed a late penalty.
Meanwhile, veteran captain Christine Sinclair cautioned on Thursday that Olympic winners Canada are capable of defeating anyone at the Women’s World Cup, adding, “This team is full of rock stars.”
They are ranked sixth and will play Nigeria in their first match in Group B on Friday in Melbourne.
In their quest to advance to the knockout rounds, they will also face co-hosts Australia and debutants Ireland.
Sinclair, the all-time highest scorer in international football and in her sixth World Cup, warned her team not to be underestimated.
“We were overlooked heading into the Tokyo Olympics and showed what we can do,” said the 40-year-old forward, who has scored an incredible 190 goals in 323 appearances for her country.
“We can beat any team in the world. It’s contagious (winning), you want to do it again and it’s just motivated us to prove to the world what we can do again.”
Canada has qualified for every World Cup since 1991, with a fourth-place result in 2003 serving as the high point. Four years ago, they were eliminated in the round of 16 in France.
They enter the tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand following a stymied build-up in which they threatened to strike over wages, funding, and contractual difficulties.