FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Steph Catley penalty gives co-hosts Australia opening win over Ireland
The Matildas' 1-0 win at Stadium Australia in Sydney means both co-hosts opened their 2023 World Cup campaigns with wins.
Football
A Steph Catley penalty kick was enough to see Australia to a 1-0 win over Ireland, to open their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament on Thursday (20 July) in Sydney.
Co-hosts Australia were initially frustrated by a resilient Irish side making their debut at football's World Cup, being held goalless for the first 51 minutes.
Then Hayley Raso went down in the penalty area six minutes into the second period and Catley, who had only ever netted three goals for her national team, made no mistake with a forceful penalty into the top corner to send the Stadium Australia crowd wild.
The stadium, built for the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, was a near-sellout, with over 75,000 people packed in to watch the Matildas – and the crowd were rewarded as, despite fierce Irish pressure after the goal, Australia held on for the win.
Despite missing their star forward Sam Kerr, ruled out before the game after she sustained a calf problem during training, Australia now sit at the top of Group B with three points.
It means both Australia and co-hosts New Zealand marked the opening day of the tournament with victories, after New Zealand recorded their first win in six appearances at the Women's World Cup earlier in Auckland.