Italy and Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaigns at Eden Park in Kingsland, New Zealand. The game began with a close first half between the two sides; Italy would have better chances but would both be ruled out for offside, but neither could break the deadlock until the last minutes of the game when substitute Cristiana Grielli's header gave Italy 3 much-needed points.
Argentina's Satbile was fouled early on, providing Argentina with an opportunity to open the scoring as the ball dropped to Larroquette, who attempted an impressive bicycle kick, but it would ultimately miss just wide of the post.
This would give Italy possession, which they would control well, with Caruso passing a pinpoint pass into the box and deflecting out for a corner; it would fly in, and Argentina would struggle to clear their lines as another corner would be awarded to Italy, a great cross that Italy struggled to find a shooting chance with Caruso hitting the side netting.
Argentina would eventually have possession back, and Salvei would begin their attack, but it would ultimately be stopped and result in an Italy goal kick, which gave them their first attacking chance of the game as Bonasea laid off a great ball to Giancinti but was saved by the experienced Correa.
Italy would eventually build up another attack against an Argentina defence that was still settling into the game, as Caruso thought she had opened to scoring and unleashed a fantastic volley; however, the offside flags came up and was disallowed.
Caruso fouled Larroquette, setting up a free kick in a great area; however, it would come to nothing as the Italian wall met it and cleared the ball from their box.
Near the end of the half, Argentina was given another lifeline as the ball fell to Giacinti again, who slotted the ball past Correa, but ultimately, the forward made her move too early and was offside, and Italys's second chance of the game was disallowed.
At the end of added time, Argentina would have a chance with Bonsegundo taking a shot, but it ended up out for a corner. Stabile took the corner, they went short and then thundered in. It was headed away, it came back to Stabile’s feet, but Durante was there to collect it.
The second half would begin with Argentina in possession and were awarded a free kick that found Stabile, whose shot was almost in, but Durante got a touch on it and cleared the ball for Italy.
Falfan conceded a free kick, giving Italy their first chance of the second half. Boattin took it for Italy, and Giacinti managed to get a head to it but couldn't target it towards the goal, and teammates could not finish it.
Bonansea would have yet another opportunity for Italy to go ahead, but her shot would ultimately not be good enough, and Correa was easily able to save the shot; the ball would later come back to Italy to set up another chance to score Greggi would have a chance but the experienced hands of Correa saved Argentina once again.
Dragoni was replaced by the experienced Girelli, who only took four minutes to work her magic, giving Italy the breakthrough they needed as Girelli would rise up to connect with a great cross and head the ball past a resilient Correa to give Italy a 1-0 lead in the final minutes of the game.
Argentina were awarded a free kick at the beginning of added time in a great area to equalise and would fly by the wall to be met by Durante, who palmed the ball away, setting up a counterattack for Italy, but nothing would come of it.
Ultimately, this was a hugely defensive game, with both sides equaling each other out for large parts of the game, Argentina's Correa and Italy's Durante have to be given huge amounts of credit for leaving their sides in the game for as long as they did, but eventually it had to be Cristiana Girelli to break the deadlock.
This result will give Italy the much-needed confidence they need as they head into their next game against a tough Sweden side, whilst Argentina will be disappointed; if they can improve their attacking options, then there is no doubt they can get a result against South Africa.
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