They had waited years for the moment and when it did arrive, on a day of deep emotion and trauma in Auckland, it was all the sweeter: with one-touch soccer and Jacqui Hand breaking away on the right, New Zealand carved open the Norwegian defense in the 48th minute and Hannah Wilkinson buried the ball from close range, 1-0. Cue delirium at Eden Park. On track to win their first-ever game at a World Cup, the Football Ferns were in soccer dreamland in the tournament's curtain raiser. Norway was rattled.

And yet it had been a day of contrasts in New Zealand’s capital. Years of planning, preparation and organization came down to D-day. Auckland however woke up to the sound of gun shots and a fatal shooting. Flags flew at half mast and a minute of silence was observed before kick-off. The colorful and brief opening ceremony lifted the spirits on a cold, windy and wet night at Eden Park. Fans from around the world, from Brazil to Hawaii, were given a poi with a QR code explaining māori culture. ‘God Defend New Zealand’ rang around the stadium and the countdown was over.

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Soccer took centre stage and the host belied their underdog status following a panicky start by Victoria Essen in goal with half-decent interventions. In a typical opening match, the teams were risk averse and opportunities came at a premium. After a well-worked attack with Hegerberg nodding the ball down, Frida Manum skied the ball over.

Backed by a partisan crowd that cheered every tackle and steal, the Ferns excelled at frustrating their opponent. They had come into the tournament in terrible form, leaking 35 goals and scoring just five in the first 14 matches under coach Jitka Klimkova, but in Auckland, they were galvanized by a once-in-a-lifetime moment and showcase for the game. Resolute and without stage fright, they belonged, Rebekah Stott blocking Hegerberg’s 36th-minute attempt.

The host was helped by a lackluster Norway, who struggled to defend and build up play. The last European championship had been a disaster for the Norwegians, shipping eight goals against England. Coach Hege Riise departed and ever since the Norway camp impressed on the outside world how good they had become in defense but the evidence in New Zealand suggested otherwise. At times, Hegerberg seemed the Europeans’ best defender.

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At the half-time whistle, the Ferns got a big round of applause and jogged to the locker room full of confidence. Neither side had a shot on target in the first half, but following the restart New Zealand’s first had a dreamy quality. With one swift move, they picked their way through the Norwegian rearguard. Wilkinson’s goal was one for the history books - the first of the 2023 tournament, the first for the host and ultimately the match winner. In five previous World Cups, New Zealand had never savored the taste of victory.

Norway were shellshocked and could not muster a reply, a reflection of their lethargic attitude and performance. The host kept impressing in the final third, causing the Nordic back four all sorts of problems. Indiah Riley’s curled attempt deserved better in the 69th minute but for a sprawling save by Norwegian number one Aurora Mikelsen. Yet, margins in soccer are tight. The Ferns tired, dropped deeper, invited the opponent on their half and Norway almost equalized with Hansen’s ping from long range.

The host looked a touch nervous, but in the end, even after Steinmetz’s missed penalty and nine grueling long minutes of injury time, they held on. New Zealand proved everyone wrong to get their party underway in style. After a night of records and firsts, the Ferns can even dream of the knockout phase.

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