Co-hosts New Zealand have won the opening match of the Women’s World Cup. Coach Jitka Klimková’s selection beat Norway 1-0 (0-0) on Thursday evening (local time) at Auckland’s Eden Park. Hannah Wilkinson scored in the 48th minute in front of 42,137 spectators. Her teammate Ria Percival shot a hand penalty just before the end of the bar (90th). In Group A, both national teams will meet Switzerland and the Philippines in the course of the final round.
Just a few hours before kick-off, an act of violence shook New Zealand. A gunman opened fire on a construction site at the site of the opening match, killing at least two people. The shooter himself was also dead, the police reported on Thursday. Other people were injured. The crime scene was not far from the Norwegian team hotel.
