The Italian women’s football team left it late as they ran out 1-0 winners of their opening 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter versus Argentina.

An 87th minute goalny Cristiana Girelli was all that separated the sides in a tensed game played at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

Luck perhaps ran out for the Argentines who were fortunate not to have not been 2 goals down before the break as the late strike from the oldest player in the Italian squad made all the difference.

twice before the break, the Italians thought they had scored but the Video Assistant Referee came into effect as the strikes from Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti didn’t stand as both players were in an offside position.

However, once Cristiana Girelli’s goal came after coming off the bench to replace the impressive Giulia Dragoni 4 minutes before that, they weren’t going to be denied.

Milena Bertolini’s Azzurre moved to the top of the Group G standing, dethroning Sweden who defeated South Africa.

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