Barbara Bonansea’s brace, including a last-gasp header, gave Italy a glorious 2-1 win over tournament favourites Australia to open the Women’s World Cup.
This was the Azzurre’s first appearance in a Women’s World Cup for 20 years, having won seven out of eight games in qualifying, whereas Australia’s Matildas were among the favourites.
Barbara Bonansea thought she’d opened the scoring after eight minutes, but it was disallowed for an incredibly tight offside call using VAR.
Barbara Bonansea’s brace, including a last-gasp header, gave Italy a glorious 2-1 win over tournament favourites Australia to open the Women’s World Cup.
This was the Azzurre’s first appearance in a Women’s World Cup for 20 years, having won seven out of eight games in qualifying, whereas Australia’s Matildas were among the favourites.
Barbara Bonansea thought she’d opened the scoring after eight minutes, but it was disallowed for an incredibly tight offside call using VAR.
Instead, Australia were awarded a penalty for a Sara Gama shirt tug and although Laura Giuliani parried Sam Kerr’s penalty, the rebound was tapped in.
Cristiana Girelli was offside anyway when forcing a desperate save from Williams, but Chloe Logarzo’s free header was palmed away.
Bonansea did get her goal eventually, as she pounced on a heavy Clare Polkinghorne touch, skipped past another tackle and nutmegged the final defender into the far bottom corner. It was Italy’s first Women’s World Cup goal since June 1999.
It remained wide open with chances at both ends, but Daniela Sabatino saw another goal ruled offside by the tightest of margins.
Deep into stoppages, Williams only flapped at a free kick and it reached Bonansea for a header at the back post, beating even the attempted goal-line clearance to give Italy the surprise victory.
Australia 1-2 Italy
Kerr 22 (A), Bonansea 56, 95 (I)
Australia: Williams; Carley, Kennedy, Polkinghorne, Carpenter; Raso (Gorry 69), Yallop (Kellond-Knight 83), Van Egmond, Logarzo, Foord (De Vanna 61); Kerr
Italy: Giuliani; Bergamaschi (Giacinti 77), Gama, Linari, Guagni; Cernoia, Giugliano, Galli (Bartoli 46); Bonansea; Girelli, Mauro (Sabatino 58)
Saved penalty: Kerr 22 (A)