Leicester defender CJ Bott made history with New Zealand this morning as their team defeated Norway 1-0, winning their first ever World Cup game.
CJ joined Leicester from Norwegian club Valerenga last season and has been contributing to the survial in WSL as well as being pivotal in this heroic act in the World Cup game taking place at home in Auckland, New Zealand.
Bott played at the right back and kept the Chelsea forward Guro Reiten silent with aggressive press and fantastic attitude. The goal was scored by Hannah Wilkinson early in 2nd half, assisted by Jacqui Hand with her brilliant pacy run and perfect pass, finding Wilkinson in front of goal.
This was of course a surprise as the Norwegian team have players playing at the highest level, with Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen and Ada Hegerberg all kept more or less silent through a game that lasted 90 minutes plus 9 minutes added time.
To the records, New Zealand also missed a penalty, and Norway had a shot saved, being pushed up in the crossbar and over, by the New Zealand goalkeeper, Victoria Esson.
Norway with their number of stars struggled heavily against a team working stone hard to keep their balance and CJ Bott had a major role in that happening, fantastic to watch how she fought with the other New Zealand women in this fantastic and heroic act.
CJ has previously won the Norwegian Cup and League with the Valerenga and do have a certain edge to her play that can be of great importance for Leicester going forward. With 39 caps and 3 goals for New Zealand so far, and also experience from the World Cup in 2019, as well as playing 21 league games for Leicester last season, she looks to play an important role both for club and country going forward.
Leicester do have one more player involved in this World Cup. Courtney Nevin is representing the other home nation, Austrialia, also known as The Matilda’s. Ashleigh Plumptre is also in the World Cup, representing Nigeria, but she is no longer attached to Leicester after leaving the club earlier in the summer.
Australia and Nigeria are in action later today, The Matilda’s being among the favorites to win this tournament.
BOOKSTORE
CHECK YOUR FOOTBALL RESULTS
CHECK ALL GOALS
Leave a Reply