Italy triumphed 1-0 against Argentina in an electric Group G match-up.
-
An enthralling fixture ends in victory for Italy
-
Substitute Christiana Girelli scored less than four minutes after entering play
-
Argentina still yet to win at a World Cup
Italy 1-0 Argentina | Group G
Goalscorer: Christiana Girelli (87′)
Italy have come out on top in a compelling Group G fixture against Argentina after a late Christiana Girelli header settled the outcome. It looked for a moment as if the game would end scoreless before the veteran substitute came to the rescue for the Azzurre.
The game started at an electric pace. Argentina fired the first warning shot, an acrobatic effort from Mariana Lorroquette only just high and wide of the goal-frame.
Italy briefly thought that they opened the scoring when Arianna Caruso was able to successfully turn and shoot from the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately for the Azzurre, the flag was up for offside.
It was Valentina Giacinti’s turn to be disappointed later in the half. Her tidy finish was overturned after she was adjudged to be standing in an offside position when 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni released the ball.
The game ebbed and flowed after the break, neither team able to get the upper hand, despite plenty of opportunities. Argentina took heart in the memory that they had scored all five of their previous FIFA Women’s World Cup™ goals in the second half.
But history would not repeat itself. Less than four minutes after entering the fray, Girelli leapt highest to meet a floated Lisa Boattin cross and headed home the winner for Italy. Argentina’s late push was not enough, and it was Milena Bertolini’s side who came away with maximum points.
Key stat
Cristiana Girelli has become the first player to score in two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for Italy. She scored a hat-trick in the 2019 finals against Jamaica.
VISA Player of the Match
Cristiana Girelli (Italy)
fifa.com
