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Striker Cristiana Girelli came off the bench to head an 87th-minute winner in Italy’s Women’s World Cup opener against Argentina.
Girelli replaced midfielder Giulia Dragoni, who at the age of 16 years and 259 days became one of the youngest players in the tournament’s history.
The record belongs to Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she played for Nigeria in 1999.
Azzurre manager Milena Bertolini put her faith in youngster Dragoni who only made her debut for the senior side on 1 July, but ultimately it was experienced Juventus player Girelli who made the difference.
It looked as though Italy were going to be frustrated by a gritty defensive performance by Argentina before substitute Girelli, who replaced Dragoni in the 83rd minute, nodded the winner.
The vastly experienced Girelli got on the end of Lisa Boattin’s cross and looped the ball over Vanina Correa to secure a 1-0 victory.
In front of a crowd of 30,889 spectators, Italy had earlier seen goals by Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti ruled out for offside.
A tetchy contest which included six bookings was stopped numerous times to allow players to have treatment.
Italy, who also included 18-year-old forward Chiara Beccari from the start, go to Wellington next to play Sweden, who also have three points in Group G, on Saturday (kick-off 08:30 BST).
Argentina’s next match is against South Africa in Dunedin on Friday (01:00 BST).
Youngster Dragoni plays her part
Italy have lost their way since an impressive showing at the 2019 World Cup which included wins over Australia, Jamaica and China.
They disappointed at Euro 2022 and 13 of Bertolini’s 23 players at this tournament are appearing on the World Cup stage for the first time.
The Italy boss produced a major surprise before kick-off by naming Dragoni in her starting XI – just three weeks after the youngster made her debut for Le Azzurre aged 16 years and 236 days.
She has been nicknamed ‘Little Messi’ and played her part in her country’s win with some confident touches, with the teenager finishing the match with an 86.4% passing accuracy.
While Dragoni started, forward Girelli, defender Elisa Bartoli and midfielder Valentina Cernoia – who have more than 200 caps between them and are appearing at their second World Cup – had to make do with seats on the bench.
Girelli made her presence felt after climbing off the bench to settle the match and break Argentina’s hearts.
La Albiceleste thought they had earned themselves a crucial point and looked crestfallen after Girelli struck before Florencia Bonsegundo was denied an equaliser in the closing moments by Francesca Durante.
The hunt for a first World Cup win goes on for Argentina, who have lost eight of their 10 games spanning four editions of the tournament.
Player of the match
DragoniGiulia Dragoni
Italy
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Squad number16Player nameDragoniAverage rating
8.08
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Squad number10Player nameGirelliAverage rating
7.98
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Squad number14Player nameBeccari
Average rating7.46
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Squad number17Player nameBoattin
Average rating7.33
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Squad number9Player nameGiacinti
Average rating7.23
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Squad number7Player nameCantore
Average rating7.14
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Squad number18Player nameCaruso
Average rating7.13
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Squad number4Player nameDi Guglielmo
Average rating7.10
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Squad number20Player nameGreggi
Average rating7.10
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Squad number8Player nameBonansea
Average rating6.97
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Squad number6Player nameGiugliano
Average rating6.83
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Squad number5Player nameLinari
Average rating6.77
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Squad number22Player nameDurante
Average rating6.74
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Squad number23Player nameSalvai
Average rating6.61
Argentina
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Squad number22Player nameBanini
Average rating5.90
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Squad number10Player nameIppólito
Average rating5.40
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Squad number9Player nameGramaglia
Average rating5.38
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Squad number3Player nameStábile
Average rating5.19
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Squad number15Player nameBonsegundo
Average rating5.16
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Squad number16Player nameBenítez
Average rating5.04
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Squad number8Player nameFalfán
Average rating4.89
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Squad number19Player nameLarroquette
Average rating4.88
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Squad number11Player nameRodríguez
Average rating4.86
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Squad number7Player nameNúñez
Average rating4.84
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Squad number6Player nameCometti
Average rating4.62
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Squad number13Player nameBraun
Average rating4.56
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Squad number1Player nameCorrea
Average rating4.46
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Squad number14Player nameMayorga
Average rating4.44
Line-ups
Italy
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Durante
- 4Di Guglielmo
- 5Linari
- 23Salvai
- 17Boattin
- 6Giugliano
- 16DragoniSubstituted forGirelliat 83′minutes
- 8BonanseaBooked at 85mins
- 18CarusoBooked at 25minsSubstituted forGreggiat 58′minutes
- 14Beccari
- 9GiacintiSubstituted forCantoreat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Giuliani
- 2Severini
- 3Orsi
- 7Cantore
- 10Girelli
- 11Glionna
- 12Baldi
- 13Bartoli
- 15Serturini
- 19Lenzini
- 20Greggi
- 21Cernoia
Argentina
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Correa
- 13Braun
- 14MayorgaBooked at 68mins
- 6Cometti
- 3StábileBooked at 90mins
- 8FalfánSubstituted forIppólitoat 90+2′minutes
- 16Benítez
- 7NúñezSubstituted forRodríguezat 77′minutes
- 22Banini
- 15BonsegundoBooked at 76mins
- 19LarroquetteBooked at 12minsSubstituted forGramagliaat 90+2′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Sachs
- 4Cruz
- 5Santana
- 9Gramaglia
- 10Ippólito
- 11Rodríguez
- 12Esponda
- 17Gómez
- 18Chávez
- 20Singarella
- 21Lonigro
- 23Cháves
- Referee:
- Melissa Borjas
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Italy 1, Argentina 0.
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Second Half ends, Italy 1, Argentina 0.
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Vanina Correa.
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Attempt saved. Lisa Boattin (Italy) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Eliana Stábile (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Sofia Cantore (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Eliana Stábile (Argentina).
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Foul by Sofia Cantore (Italy).
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Estefanía Banini (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Paulina Gramaglia (Argentina).
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Attempt missed. Sofia Cantore (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chiara Beccari following a fast break.
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Attempt saved. Florencia Bonsegundo (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Foul by Sofia Cantore (Italy).
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Florencia Bonsegundo (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Argentina. Paulina Gramaglia replaces Mariana Larroquette.
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Substitution, Argentina. Dalila Ippólito replaces Daiana Falfán.
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Francesca Durante (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aldana Cometti (Argentina).
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Foul by Cristiana Girelli (Italy).
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Daiana Falfán (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.