The two co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have won their respective opening matches of the Women’s World Cup.
Australia’s Matildas beat Ireland 1-0 (0-0) in Sydney. Stephanie Catley scored in the 52nd minute with a penalty kick in front of 75,784 spectators. National coach Tony Gustavsson had to do without star player Sam Kerr, who is injured due to a calf injury.
Before that, coach Jitka Klimková’s New Zealand team won 1-0 (0-0) against Norway at Eden Park in Auckland. 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.
Only a few hours before the opening, an act of violence shook New Zealand. A gunman opened fire at a construction site in Auckland, killing at least two people. The shooter himself was also dead, police said. Other people were injured. The crime scene was not far from the Norwegian team hotel.
