2023 Women's World Cup: South Africa Stun Italy, Joins Super Falcons In Round Of 16

2023 Women's World Cup: South Africa Stun Italy, Joins Super Falcons In Round Of 16

Sampson Adedeji

Thembi Kgatlana scored a last-gasp winner to give South Africa a dramatic win over Italy that sent them through to the last 16 of the Women's World Cup at the expense of their opponents, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Kgatlana struck two minutes into stoppage time to send her team off to Sydney to face the Netherlands on Sunday and break the hearts of the Italians, who had only needed a draw to progress.

The Italians had opened the scoring when Karabo Dhlamini tripped Italy forward Chiara Beccari just inside the box in the tenth minute and Caruso converted the penalty with a confident shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

South Africa equalized in the 32nd minute through an own goal from Benedetta Orsi, who did not check where goalkeeper Francesca Durante was before making a backpass.

Banyana Banyana 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 it home.

Caruso answered seven minutes later from a corner when the ball caught her hip in a goalmouth scramble and cannoned into the net.

It looked as though Italy might hang on for the draw 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.