By Samindra Kunti in Auckland
July 24 – Italy opened their Women’s World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Argentina following a last-gasp goal by substitute Cristiana Girelli.
Italy and Argentina drew just 30,889 fans, down from the bumper crowds of the opening game between hosts New Zealand and Norway and USA vs Vietnam. On Wednesday, Spain vs Zambia will struggle to fill Eden Park.
Attendances and slow uptakes of tickets have been a concern in New Zealand. Just 11,991 spectators watched Portugal vs Netherlands in Dunedin at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,947.
In a match that neither Italy or Argentina deserved to win, Girelli’s looping 86th-minute header proved the difference between Italy and Argentina. The substitute found the breakthrough with her first touch of a match that was mired in organisational atrophy. The diabolical spectacle had seen little goalmouth action. The Italians celebrated wildly, knowing that Argentina would not come back from Girelli’s strike.
For much of the evening, the game was a stalemate and on course to become the third goalless match of these finals after Nigeria vs Canada and France vs Jamaica.
In a tight first half, Italy twice thought they had got the opener, but on both occasions, the goals were ruled out for offside. It was symbolic of a first half with few opportunities. In fact, the Argentinians barely had a sniff of goal with no attempts on target. With ample tenacity and skill among the sides, the goalless score at half-time was hardly a surprise.
Without much build-up, neither side generated momentum, but in the 50th minute, Eliana Stabile came close with a teasing freekick from the right. It was not until after Girelli’s goal that Argentina threatened again, Florencia Bonsegundo sending a dangerous freekick toward goal.
At the final whistle, the Italians indulged in more celebrations, delighted with three points that could set the team on their way again for a run to the quarter-finals like at the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Argentina will struggle once again to get out of the group for the first time, but their fans kept singing and dancing.
In the other Group G game, Sweden came back to defeat South Africa in front of 18,317 fans in dramatic fashion with a 90th-minute header by Amanda Ilestadt from their 13th corner kick to deny Banyana Banyana their first-ever point at the World Cup.
“We might not have had the preparation we wanted but the group of players have shown resilience, they’ve shown bravery and courage – and through that, we could have got a better result,” said South Africa coach Desire Ellis. “But other than that I’m very proud of the way we played. We had a game plan and they [Sweden] did exactly what we thought they would.”
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