Women’s World Cup: South Africa reach knockout round with 3-2 win over Italy

South Africa have reached the knockout round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Italy on Wednesday August 2.

Desire Ellis tutored Bayana Bayana needed maximum points vs Italy to progress to the knockout round while the opposition would have progressed with a draw.

A keenly contested game looked headed for a 2-2 draw in favour of the Europeans until South Africa’s star Thembi Kgatlana struck a winner in the second minute of additional time to send the African Champions through to the next round.

It was Italy who drew first blood through Caruso but their first half dominance was cancelled off by an own goal to send both teams to the changing room tied 1-1.

Magaia scored in the 67th minute to put South Africa 2-1 up but the Italians drew level with Caruso’s second of the match in the 74th minute.

At the expiration of 90′ minutes, eleven minutes was added on for stoppagesand so the African Champions found space to strike the winner and seal a first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup win and knockout round spot.

Magaia set-up Thembi Kgatlana to stab home the winner and secure a runners-up place behind Sweden for South Africa.

It finished South Africa 3-2 Italy, to end the European nations journey and bring to two the number of African teams in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last-16 – the other Nigeria who finished runners-up in group B.