South Africa beat Italy in Women's World Cup, reach last 16
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Captain Thembi Kgatlana scores the winner in the 92nd minute to make history for South Africa.
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South Africa's forward Wendy Shongwe (center) celebrates at the end of the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group G football match between South Africa and Italy at Wellington Stadium in Wellington on August 2, 2023 (AFP)
South Africa won a Women's World Cup match for the first time with a stunning 3-2 victory over Italy to reach the last 16 in a thriller on Wednesday.
Captain Thembi Kgatlana scored the winner in the 92nd minute to make history for South Africa and set up a meeting with the Netherlands -- sending Italy home.
Arianna Caruso scored twice for Italy and thought she had ensured the draw they needed to go through with 16 minutes left, before Kgatlana's stunning late intervention.
South Africa's Coach Desiree Ellis, whose side were beaten 2-1 in the last minute in their opener against Sweden and then drew 2-2 with Argentina, expressed: "This is just amazing. I thought they were incredible.
"I said we were going to fight for every ball. We said we're not going to give up and they were absolutely magnificent.
"This victory is for everyone back home, people that got up in the early hours of the morning to support us -- that is for them."
Sweden topped Group G with nine points, followed by South Africa with four, Italy with three, and Argentina with one.
"They fought like warriors. They fought like the heroines that we know that they are," said Ellis.
Read more: Nigeria reaches knockout stage at WWC for third time in its history
