There was an adrenaline rush and tears of joy from players and coaching staff as co-host New Zealand defeated one-time champions Norway 1-0 in the opening game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park Thursday morning.

The first half ended goalless, but three minutes after the break, Hannah Wilkinson became the hero as she put Jacqui Hand’s cross into the net to put the Football Ferns upfront in front of the more than 40,000 crowd.

Meanwhile, the Norwegians, who have been surprisingly underperforming for most of the match, came close to scoring for the first time in the 81st minute when Tuva Hansen’s shot narrowly missed its target as the ball struck the crossbar.

In the 90th minute, New Zealand had the chance to score their first FIFA Women’s World Cup penalty after the ball struck Hansen’s hand. The national team’s most capped player (164) rocked the crossbar with her shot.

Wilkinson’s strike was the game’s only goal and was enough to secure the New Zealanders their first-ever victory at a FIFA World Cup tournament after 32 years and 16 matches.

It was a historic moment worth celebrating as the players and staff of the New Zealand national team ran onto the pitch immediately after the full-time whistle to celebrate the win with hugs and tears of joy.