New Zealand stun Norway in FIFA Women's World Cup opener

The hosts had gone 16 World Cup matches without a victory before a strike from Hannah Wilkinson at Eden Park in Auckland turned the tide.

The Football Ferns were the quickest out of the blocks in the opening stanza, leaving the Norwegian defence often scrambling. However, New Zealand lacked the finishing touches, with the defence stifling any chances.

Norway did have their moments in the sun, with midfielder Frida Leonhardsen-Maanu sending one over the crossbar. Shortly after, Ada Hegerberg was nearly one-on-one with Football Ferns’ stopper Victoria Esson, but a brilliant tackle from Rebekah Stott scuppered the chance.

Despite Norway’s strong end to the half, it was the New Zealand women who came out firing after the break.

A series of deft passes would put Jacqui Hand in space, allowing her to find forward Wilkinson who powered the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring and lift Kiwi hearts.

The hosts nearly doubled the lead with a long-range effort from Indiah-Paige Riley, but goalkeeper Aurora Watten Mikalsen was - only just - equal to the task.

The drama continued to unfold late in the match, with Esson pulling off a superb save to deny Tuva Hansen an equaliser.

Hansen then turned villain as a handball gave the Football Ferns a penalty in the dying embers of the match. Ria Percival stepped up to take the spot kick, but could only find the woodwork. The miss mattered little, as New Zealand held firm in the final minutes to make history.