After lacking performances in their previous group G Women’s World Cup matches against Sweden and Argentina, Banyana came back with a vengeance. Italy was not ready for South Africa’s determination to defy the odds and snatch a last-minute victory in the qualifying game. Speculators predicted that South Africa had a 26% chance of winning.
Banyana has now taken 2nd place in their division after Sweden and has made it through to the last 16 teams that will fight their way to the top. Italy has been eliminated from the tournament.
The First Half of the Group G Women’s World Cup Qualifier was Dominated by Italy
Italy possessed the field in the first half of their final group G match with confidence. Arianna Caruso demonstrated this when she landed a goal in the 10th minute from a penalty kick. As the teams were heading into half-time after 7 minutes of extra time, Italy was nursing the wound they incurred when Benedetta Orsi fumbled an own goal at the 32nd-minute mark. The first half ended on a level playing field, with a 1-all draw.
South Africa Took Back Control of the Match in the Second Half of the Women’s World Cup
South Africa was ready to take control of the second half by increasing their presence in the game. In the 67th minute, Thembi Kgatlana’s smooth inside pass connected with forward Hildah Magaia when Magaia was free behind the defensive line. Magaia took the chance to sweep the ball into the net to give South Africa a 2nd goal. But it did not take long for Caruso to follow up with an equaliser for Italy. Just 7 minutes after Magaia’s goal, Caruso pushed a corner into the bottom-right corner of the net.
In a wild turn of events and before Italy could relax into the 2 – 2 draw at full-time, the lethal combination that was Magaia and Kgatlana came through with a goal in the 92nd minute.
In post-match interviews, Kgatlana proudly confessed:
“I came back from a very, brutal injury to be here, to play for the country, to represent every single girl that wanted to be here, to make history with the girls for South Africa.”
“Today we just told ourselves, we have to fight. We were the underdogs and I think it worked perfectly for us. When you play that underdog, they come out running for you and we knew that in terms of pace, they weren’t like us, and it’s something that we could utilise for the victory.”
Thembi Kgatlana
Coach Desiree Ellis added:
“They fought like warriors. They fought like the heroines that we know that they are. They fought to be historically remembered and they’ve made history not just getting our first win but going to the round of 16 and that is amazing.”
Coach Desiree Ellis
