South Africa’s inspirational captain, Thembi Kgatlana, scored an injury-time winner as Bayana Bayana booked a historic place in the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Italy in their final Group G clash in Wellington Wednesday.
The victory sees Banyana finish as runners-up in the pool and will now face Netherlands in the next stage, but for coach Des Ellis, it is an incredible moment of history for the sport in the country.
For the third match in a row, it was a gallant effort from a South African side that has been vastly improved on the global stage compared to their maiden World Cup appearance four years ago, and this time they completed the job.
Arianna Caruso put Italy ahead from the penalty-spot early on, before Benedetta Orsi scored an own goal that levelled things up for Banyana just past the half-hour mark.
Hildah Magaia then turned the game on its head to put South Africa ahead, but they could not hold on as Caruso turned the ball home from a corner.
It looked as though it would be more heartache for South Africa, but Kgatlana won the day as she turned the ball home from close-range after excellent work from Magaia.
Italy had an early penalty when Karabo Dhlamini’s poor tackle on Chiara Beccari gifted the European side the opportunity from 12 yards.
It was a naïve challenge from the wing-back, coming from behind with little prospect of winning the ball.
It is these types of incidents that have cost Banyana in this tournament, poor moments of judgement. Italy’s Arianna Caruso had no trouble with the penalty, slotting it in the bottom corner.
In the other group match, Sweden beat Argentina to make it three wins clinching top spot in Group G and a mouth-watering last-16 clash with the USA.
With first place essentially guaranteed thanks to a vastly superior goal difference, Sweden made nine changes in Hamilton and lacked the cohesion of their first two games but still had too much for their opponents.
After a fiercely contested hour, Sweden’s extra quality shone through, with Rebecka Blomqvist finding space in the box to power home Sofia Jakobsson’s cross from close range.
Elin Rubensson put the result beyond doubt with a coolly taken late penalty after Blomqvist had been fouled in the box as Argentina sought to defend a free-kick.
