Sweden faced a tough challenge from South Africa, ultimately winning 2-1 in the dying minutes of the match in a thrilling start to the Women’s World Cup.
The game saw a dramatic turnaround as Sweden fought back from being a goal down to snatch victory through a late goal by Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt. The match was played under heavy rain in Wellington, adding to the excitement for the 18,317 spectators in attendance.
South Africa’s Hildah Magaia scored early in the second half, giving her team hope of an upset. However, Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfo quickly responded, equalizing the score. The final twist came when Ilestedt headed home from close range, securing a hard-fought win for Sweden and denying the African champions their first World Cup point ever.
In the same group, Group G, Italy is set to face Argentina on Monday, adding to the intensity of the opening matches.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands, who were runners-up in the 2019 World Cup, had a more comfortable start against World Cup debutants Portugal in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Defender Stefanie van der Gragt’s powerful header from a corner set the Netherlands on their path to a 1-0 victory. They will now face reigning champions, the United States, in a highly anticipated rematch of the final, with Group E supremacy at stake.
The tournament also saw co-hosts New Zealand encounter a fire incident at their hotel in Auckland. The team was safely evacuated, though it was an unsettling experience for the players.
Defender CJ Bott described the situation as “not ideal” but confirmed that they were able to relocate until the hotel was deemed safe to return.
With Germany entering the tournament on Monday, coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg acknowledged the increased competitiveness in women’s football, noting that all teams are capable of posing challenges to their opponents. Brazil will also be in action on Monday, facing Panama in another exciting clash.
As the group stage progresses, co-hosts New Zealand will begin their second round of matches on Tuesday, and fans around the world eagerly await more thrilling encounters in the Women’s World Cup.
