Women’s World Cup: Mixed emotions for WSL teammates

Tottenham’s Ria Percival, appearing in her fifth World Cup, helped the Football Ferns upset a Norway side including Arsenal’s Frida Maanum in the opening game of the tournament.

Hannah Wilkinson swept home Jacqui Hand’s cross early in the second half to send the home fans in a crowd of 42,137 into ecstacy and a missed 89th-minute penalty by Percival could not dampen the mood as the co-hosts claimed their first World Cup win in 16 attempts.

Norway, champions in 1995, saw Maanum poke a great chance wide and Tuva Hansen have a shot tipped onto the crossbar by Victoria Esson as they fell to a shock defeat.

Australia then beat World Cup debutants the Republic of Ireland by the same margin in Sydney, where a crowd of 75,784 looked on.

And it meant joy for Arsenal’s Steph Catley – who netted the winner from the penalty spot on 52 minutes – and Caitlin Foord, but heartbreak for clubmate Katie McCabe, who captained the Irish.

The Matildas were frustrated for large spells of the first half, with Hayley Raso heading wide from a corner.

Foord sent a weak shot into the side netting, but a push on Raso by Marissa Sheva gave stand-in skipper Catley the chance to convert from the spot.

Ireland had chances to get back on level terms with Denise O’Sullivan blazing over, Heather Payne scuffing another attempt and Megan Connolly seeing a free-kick deflected onto the roof of the net.

West Ham United’s Izzy Atkinson was introduced as a late substitute and saw McCabe force a late save from Hammers clubmate Mackenzie Arnold in the Australian goal as the hosts held on in a frantic finish to take the points.

Day two sees Canada, who include Arsenal’s Sabrina D’Angelo and Cloe Lacasse as well as Tottenham’s Shelina Zadorsky, take on Nigeria, before Switzerland – with Tottenham’s Luana Buhler and Arsenal duo Noelle Maritz and Lia Walti – face the Philippines.