South Africa’s ‘warriors’ book historic last-16 berth with last-gasp win over Italy
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South Africa's Wendy Shongwe celebrates with Sibulele Holweni after the match as the team qualify for the knockout stages.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WELLINGTON – South Africa coach Desiree Ellis said her players “fought like warriors” after they clinched their maiden Women’s World Cup win on Wednesday to also progress to the last 16 of the tournament.
Thembi Kgatlana scored a last-gasp winner in Wellington to give the South Africans a 3-2 victory over Italy in Group G that sent them through to the next round at the expense of their opponents.
The striker struck two minutes into stoppage time to set up a clash with the Netherlands in Sydney on Sunday and break the hearts of the Italians, who had needed only a draw to progress.
Italy had appeared to have salvaged the draw they needed when Arianna Caruso scored from a corner in the 74th minute but were left to rue what could have been after a series of late missed chances.
“They fought like warriors,” said an emotional Ellis, a founding member of the South Africa women’s side in 1993.
“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 freaking amazing.
“I said we were going to fight for every ball, we’re not going to give up... This victory is for everyone back home, people that got up in the early hours of the morning to support us – that is for them.”
The Italians had opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Caruso converted a penalty.
South Africa equalised in the 32nd minute through an own goal from Benedetta Orsi.
Banyana Banyana then went ahead for the first time in the 67th minute when Kgatlana’s neat inside pass found Hildah Magaia free behind the defensive line and the forward swept the ball into the net.
Caruso grabbed her second of the match seven minutes later from a corner when the ball hit her hip in a goalmouth scramble and cannoned into the bottom right corner.
It looked as though Italy might just hang on in a frantic finale but Magaia’s pass found Kgatlana in the box and the striker smashed the ball into the net to secure second place in the group behind Sweden.
The Swedes, meanwhile, set up a last-16 showdown with the United States after a Rebecka Blomqvist header and an Elin Rubensson penalty gave them a 2-0 win over Argentina.
Blomqvist headed home in the 66th minute in Hamilton and substitute Rubensson added a last-minute spot kick as Sweden made it three wins out of three to finish top of Group G.
“We had to have some patience,” Blomqvist said.
“Argentina defended well and closed off a lot of spaces. We felt at half-time that if we just continued doing what we were doing, we’d break them down, and more space opened up towards the end.”
Sweden will next face two-time defending champions the US in a blockbuster clash in Melbourne on Sunday – a rematch of their Tokyo Olympics group-stage duel in 2021, which the Europeans won 3-0 en route to the final. REUTERS, AFP
