The winger featured for just under one hour in Auckland as a clinical finish on the counter from Hannah Wilkinson earned New Zealand their first-ever World Cup win in front of over 42,000 fans at Eden Park, a record for a football match in the country.
While it promises to be an exciting month of football, the opening match of the tournament began with a perfectly observed moment of silence after two people lost their lives and six were injured following a shooting in Auckland in the early hours.
Blakstad started on the left of a front three for a Norway side who were under the cosh in the opening exchanges, but the hosts couldn’t translate that early promise into any clearcut chances.
Indeed, it was the Norwegians who perhaps squandered the best sight of goal as the 20-minute mark approached, when Frida Maanum snatched at a knockdown from Ada Hegerberg and sliced wide from inside the area.
It was Blakstad who had been the architect of that chance, sending an inviting ball into the New Zealand box after cleverly turning away from her marker down the left.
Norway went even closer in a first half lacking that finishing touch when Hegerberg was fed by Caroline Graham Hansen, but the forward’s goal-bound effort was cut out expertly by Rebekah Stott.
It was a similar story soon after at the other end when the lively Wilkinson broke through, but Thea Bjelde recovered in time to make the block on the stroke of half-time.
Wilkinson wouldn’t be denied a second time though, pouncing inside three minutes of the restart to hand New Zealand a shock lead.
The forward fired Jacqui Hand’s cross home after a swift counter down the right, sending the Eden Park crowd into raptures and grabbing her nation’s first World Cup goal since 2015 in the process.
Blakstad was replaced before the hour by Emilie Haavi, with the City winger’s tireless efforts a highlight in an otherwise lacklustre display from the Norwegians.
The pendulum continued to swing in favour of the hosts, but the scores should have levelled soon after Blakstad was replaced when Maanum dragged an effort wide of the post from a matter of yards.
Hege Riise’s side were thankful to stopper Aurora Mikalsen soon after though at the other end when she produced a phenomenal save to deny Indiah-Paige Riley, tipping a vicious long-range effort away from danger after the 21-year-old had cut inside onto her left foot.
The hosts went close again with 15 to play when Wilkinson held up play before knocking the ball back into the path of Ria Percival, who flashed an effort just wide of the mark from range.
With both sides desperate to begin their tournament on a positive note, a grandstand finish beckoned, and Norway’s first real moment of quality in the second half almost produced what would’ve been a memorable equaliser.
It came when Hegerberg and Tuva Hansen combined, with the latter forcing a fine reaction save from Victoria Essen, who tipped the ball into the crossbar.
But the sucker punch almost followed as stoppage time approached, when the co-hosts were awarded a penalty after a VAR review spotted a handball in the area.
Percival stepped up to do the honours but instead found the woodwork from 12 yards.
It was a lifeline for the Norwegians, but they couldn’t make it count, with Guro Reiten scuffing an effort wide from close-range after the ball fell invitingly in the area with 60 seconds to play.
Norway will hope to bounce back against Switzerland in their second group match on Tuesday 25 July.
