For the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, two Confederations co-hosted the competition –Oceania Football Confederation and the Asian Football Confederation, welcoming 30 other countries to their shores. It was also the first time that such a large number of participants had taken part in the tournament – up from 24 four years ago in France.
Of the 64 matches scheduled, Aotearoa New Zealand played host to 29 games, most filled with tension, drama and upsets and will go down in Women’s World Cup history as some of the most memorable clashes.
The first match of the 2023 edition was played in New Zealand where the hosts downed Norway 1-0 in Group A fixture at Eden Park in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau on 20 July.
The last fixture was at the same venue – Match 61, which was the exciting 2-1 win by Spain over Sweden in the semi-final on 15 August.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana played three matches in New Zealand – two in Wellington (vs Sweden and Italy), and the other in Dunedin (vs Argentina).
For their Round of the 16 fixture, South Africa flew across the border to Australia to face the Netherlands where the Europeans stood in the way of another historic milestone, a first ever quarterfinal spot, following a 2-0 loss for Desiree Ellis and her charges.
According to FIFA.com, the two clashes against Italy and Argentina have been rated among the most memorable fixtures in the 2023 FIFA Women’s Cup played across New Zealand.
Ironically, the game against the South Americans was where the African Champion first entered the world football history books – by earning their first point in the competition in a 2-2 draw.
They then rewrote the history books after a pulsating 3-2 win over Italy in their final group stages match – and not only did they get their first victory, but that feat saw them qualify for the Round of 16 for the first time ever – a mammoth achievement.
Banyana Banyana won the hearts of many watching from the World Cup venues in New Zealand and Australia, but also around the world with their brave and never-say-die attitude, and the team left a very positive impact in the world of women’s football.
And for them to do this at the highest level of competition despite not having a professional women’s football league, is something amazing and was perhaps the only way they could send a strong message to the Football Association and the corporate world to help them start a professional league.
Here are some of the most memorable matches held in New Zealand below, according to FIFA.com:
South Africa 2-2 Argentina
Group G, Dunedin Stadium
In a match that provided bags of entertainment for neutral supporters at Dunedin Stadium, Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana gave South Africa a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes to play. The game looked destined to end in defeat for Argentina, before two goals in five minutes to Sophia Braun and Romina Nunez – the first an absolute stunner – rescued an unlikely point.
South Africa 3-2 Italy
Group C, Wellington Regional Stadium
In a drama-filled encounter, South Africa trailed led Italy before responding twice to lead 2-1. Arianna Caruso’s second goal looked set to seal Italy’s path to the Round of 16 at South Africa’s expense before Hildah Magaia scored a memorable winner to take Banyana Banyana through for the first time.
New Zealand 1-0 Norway
Group A, Eden Park
The Auckland crowd witnessed something special as New Zealand registered their first win at a Women’s World Cup in the tournament’s Opening Match. After a cagey opening from both sides, a stunning team move saw Jacqui Hand cross for Hannah Wilkinson to slam home a wildly celebrated winner. Eden Park went into raptures as the Football Ferns held on for a famous win.
New Zealand 0-1 Philippines
Group A, Wellington Regional Stadium
If the opening match was all ecstasy for New Zealand, the second would provide nothing but heartbreak as the Philippines stunned the co-hosts to claim a historic first-ever World Cup win. The put in a fighting performance and were rewarded when Sarina Bolden scored the game’s decisive goal with their only shot on target.
USA 1-1 Netherlands
Group E, Wellington Regional Stadium
The Netherlands opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Jill Roord’s effort at the edge of the box beat the diving Alyssa Naeher. USA looked to be on the ropes but Lindsey Horan stepped up with a captain’s goal, heading home an unstoppable header to earn a point in this rematch between the 2019 finalists.
Japan 4-0 Spain
Group C, Wellington Regional Stadium
This was one of the most stunning matches, and score lines, of the tournament so far. It wasn’t just that the Nadeshiko scored four goals past the eventual finalists – it was that they did so with just 22 per cent possession. La Roja simply had no answer against a team who were utterly ruthless on the night.
Spain 2-1 Netherlands
Quarter-final, Wellington Regional Stadium
A tense last-eight tie turned into a thriller from the moment Mariona Caldentey fired Spain in front from the spot on 81 minutes. Centre-back Stefanie van der Gragt, who had conceded that penalty, made amends with a dramatic equaliser to force extra time. But just as the Dutch looked to be in the ascendancy, Salma Paralluelo popped up with a superb 111th-minute winner.
Japan 1-2 Sweden
Quarter-final, Eden Park
Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt’s unlikely surge towards the adidas Golden Boot took a giant step forward when she scored the opener at Eden Park in the 32nd minute. But although Filippa Angeldal’s penalty doubled Sweden’s lead, Japan roared back and were eventually rewarded with Honoka Hayashi’s 87th-minute goal. A nervy finale followed, with the Swedes ultimately able to hold out to take their place in the last four.
Spain 2-1 Sweden
Semi-final, Eden Park
The 29th and final match that New Zealand hosted had all of the drama and theatre condensed into the final 10 minutes of the match. Paralluelo opened the scoring in the 81st minute before Sweden responded two minutes from time through Rebecka Blomqvist. Extra time looked to be beckoning but Spain reclaimed the lead 71 seconds later when Olga Carmona’s spectacular effort sealed their place in the final.
“We don’t want to make it just a good a World Cup or a great World Cup we want to go beyond greatness, and we are already halfway because this is the World Cup of many firsts. It’s the first World Cup that that is Co-hosted by two confederation the Oceania Football Confederation and the Asian Football Confederation; the first World Cup that is taking place in the southern hemisphere; the first World Cup where we have 32 teams compared to 24 in France; the first World Cup where the players have exactly the same level of treatment in terms of travel in terms of accommodation in terms of training sites;ss the first World Cup where we have a dedicated commercial strategy with a firm decision taken to sell the right of the Women’s World Cup no longer as bundled one with a man’s World Cup but as a standalone one; this will be first World Cup where we’ll be breaking even and if we get more money because people are still signing in to become a sponsor we will be reinvesting this funding in the development of women football,” said outgoing FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura in a recent interview.
By Matlhomola Morake
