Sam Kerr-less Australia Grind Down Ireland To Win Nervy World Cup Opener

An Australian side missing injured superstar Sam Kerr made a winning start to their home Women's World Cup on Thursday with a nervy 1-0 victory over debutants Ireland in front of a pulsating 75,000-strong Sydney crowd. Stand-in skipper Steph Catley calmly slotted home a penalty in the 52nd minute in the only goal of a full-blooded game that sprung to life in the second half. It ensured three points in a tough Group B as the Matildas kick-started their mission to sweep past the quarter-finals for the first time.

But they had to do without Chelsea striker Kerr, their all-time leading goal-scorer who was ruled out before kick-off until at least their third game with a calf injury.

The setback means the skipper will also miss the clash against Nigeria in a week's time, with their medical team to make an assessment before their final group clash, against Olympic champions Canada.

Despite her absence, deafening cheers in a throbbing Stadium Australia greeted the players, with a record crowd of 75,784 for a women's game in Australia -- plenty of them Irish fans in full voice.

It surpassed the 50,629 who flocked to see the Matildas in a Melbourne friendly against France last week that the home side won 1-0.

That victory came on the back of recent wins over Spain and European champions England, with many seeing Australia as among the title favourites.

Manchester City's Mary Fowler, who scored the winner against France, started in place of Kerr with Arsenal's Catley assuming the captain's armband.

They had their first sniff of goal in the 16th minute after a cagey opening, but Clare Hunt couldn't control her header from Kyra Cooney-Cross's corner and the ball flew wide.

Ireland did well to blunt Australia's usual high-octane game,