Deprived of Samantha Kerr, injured in the calf, Australia got the better of Ireland (1-0) on Thursday for its first match in this 2023 World Cup.
The two host countries of this Women’s World Cup have had a successful debut. After New Zealand, which surprised Norway (1-0) in the opening match at Eden Park (Auckland), Australia also started the competition with a victory.
It is on the same score that the Matildas launched their tournament, Thursday against Ireland (1-0), on the lawn of the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. A success that took shape at the start of the second period, on a penalty converted by Arsenal defender Stephanie Catley (52nd).
This result allows the Australians, deprived of their star Samantha Kerr, injured in the calf in training the day before and forfeited for the first two meetings, to temporarily take the lead in group B. Pending the result of the other poster between Nigeria and Canada.
