Date: Sunday 9th June
Venue: Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
Italy came from behind to seal a dramatic last-minute win over Australia.
Key Moments –
11’ Italy’s Barbara Bonansea thinks she has opened the scoring, but after a VAR check she was ruled to have been in an offside position.
20’ Australian captain Sam Kerr is taken down in the box by Italian captain Sara Gama. She is given a yellow card and a penalty is awarded to The Matildas.
22’ Kerr steps up to the spot but her effort if initially pushed away by the keeper. Kerr is able to fire the rebound into the back of the net to give Australia the lead (1-0).
HALF TIME – 1-0 (Australia lead)
56’ Italy equalise. Bonansea dummies her defender and slots the ball past the keeper, into the bottom corner (1-1).
69’ Italy have a possible penalty shout when the ball appears to hit the arm of Matilda Lisa De Vanna. However, VAR determines that no penalty should be given.
82’ The ball is in the back of the net again for Italy, however the flag is raised. Their second goal of the game ruled offside.
90’ 5 minutes of time added
90(+4)’ Bonansea gives Italy a last-minute lead. She secures herself a brace and ensures Italy take all three points from their opening game.
Visa Player Of The Match: Barbara Bonansea (Italy)
Australia: Williams, Carpenter, Polkinghorne, Kennedy, Catley, Logarzo, Van Egmond, Yallop, Foord, Raso, Kerr (C)
Italy: Giuliani, Guagni, Linari, Gama (C), Bergamaschi, Cernoia, Giugliano, Galli, Bonansea, Girelli, Mauro
