/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/WPAFQODINFMZRDSYKZDWPFBOFQ.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/WPAFQODINFMZRDSYKZDWPFBOFQ.jpg&description=Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand opened the ninth Women's World Cup with wins and record crowds on Thursday, after a shooting near the Norwegian team hotel in Auckland that left three dead and six injured.){kind=link}
SYDNEY/AUCKLAND, July 20 (Reuters) – Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand opened the ninth Women’s World Cup with wins and record crowds on Thursday, after a shooting near the Norwegian team hotel in Auckland that left three dead and six injured.
Police said the shooter was among those killed and the danger from the incident was over, while New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said there was no risk to national security.
After an opening ceremony celebrating traditional Maori culture including the famous Haka war dance, a slick team goal finished off by Hannah Wilkinson at Eden Park was the difference in New Zealand’s 1-0 victory over Norway, their first ever at a World Cup.
The crowd of 42,137 beat the host nation’s previous record for an international soccer match.
“To get their first win at home while they’re hosting… it’s a moment in history, for women’s football and for New…