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History was made as the Women’s Under-20 National Team reached the knockout stages of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time, securing their place with a second victory in as many matches at a tournament showcasing the finest young talent in world football. On an unusually warm September afternoon in the Polish city of Lodz, the Azzurrine beat New Zealand 3-0 after a difficult first half, with substitutes Ventriglia - who scored twice and was named Player of the Match by FIFA - and Appiah finding the net in the closing stages. It was Appiah’s first goal for Italy.
Head coach Nicola Matteucci was understandably delighted at the final whistle. “We know there are no easy matches in a competition like this,” he began, reflecting on a contest that had proved difficult for long spells. He continued: “Being able to rely on every member of the squad is a great credit to the girls. It is immensely satisfying to be here, and we will always give everything we have. We want to keep showing that we belong here and that we are determined to go further in the competition.”
Holding her Player of the Match award, Rosanna Ventriglia was all smiles as she spoke to the journalists in attendance: “I’m absolutely delighted. What a wonderful way to make my World Cup debut. The two goals make it special for me personally, but the team’s result matters most..”
Alongside her was the day’s other standout performer, Karen Appiah, who completed the 3-0 win with a magnificent finish using the outside of her right foot. “I’d like to dedicate my first Italy goal to my younger self, who hoped that one day she would wear this shirt and experience a moment like this. The journey here was difficult, particularly mentally, because I had to remain patient and wait until I turned 18. Today, though, I can say it has all been worth it: this joy makes up for everything I went through.”
The match. Matteucci made changes out wide following the opening victory over the United States, handing Consolini and Lombardi their first starts, while Sciabica joined Pellegrino Cimò behind Galli in attack. With the Italian Ambassador to Poland, Luca Franchetti Pardo, watching from the stands, the Azzurrine created the first clear-cut chance inside three minutes. Consolini produced a fine solo run down the right and teed up Giada Pellegrino Cimò from close range, but her effort struck the post.
The pattern of play was much as expected, with Italy controlling proceedings for long spells and New Zealand sitting deep in a five-player defensive line that left little room to exploit. The Azzurrine had to wait until the half-hour mark for their next openings, with two chances arriving in quick succession following mistakes in New Zealand’s build-up, but Neary remained alert on both occasions.
Galli took matters into her own hands (42’), unleashing a powerful, dipping left-footed strike from 20 metres that flashed narrowly past the post. Moments later, Fadda threaded a pass through to Pellegrino Cimò, but once again the New Zealand goalkeeper was equal to it. As the shadows lengthened across the pitch, providing a visible reminder of the passing time, Italy struggled to find a way through New Zealand’s compact defensive block. The sides therefore headed into the break with the score still goalless.
At the start of the second half, Matteucci sought fresh impetus by replacing Sciabica with Zamboni. Once again, however, it was Pellegrino Cimò who went close to opening the scoring (48’), racing onto a ball over the top from Cocino before sending her angled effort narrowly wide.
With little to separate the sides, the Italy coach turned to his bench, introducing the dynamism of Catena and Appiah and the penalty-box presence of Ventriglia. It was the Azzurrine number nine who finally broke the deadlock as the contest increasingly threatened to become a tale of missed chances. Ventriglia pounced on a loose ball (78’) and beat the New Zealand goalkeeper with a precise and powerful right-footed finish from inside the area.
Buoyed by the goal, Rosanna soon struck again, capitalising on Appiah’s surging run down the right and the number eleven’s accurate delivery. There was a brief wait for the referee’s decision, with VAR available but no Goal Line Technology in use. The goal was eventually awarded after confirmation that the ball had bounced down off the crossbar and crossed the line.
With only seconds remaining before the 90-minute mark, Karen Appiah treated the crowd to a magnificent finish. Her outside-of-the-boot strike from the edge of the area completed the 3-0 victory and secured the Azzurrine’s place in the round of 16. Italy face Japan at 15:00 CEST on Saturday in their final group match, with top spot at stake. For tonight, however, there is time to celebrate. Only briefly, as the coaching staff always stress, but it is richly deserved.
ITALY 3-0 NEW ZEALAND (HT: 0-0)
ITALY: Belli; Cocino, Bressan, Gallo; Consolini, Fadda, Cherubini (63’ Catena), Lombardi; Sciabica (46’ Zamboni), Pellegrino Cimò (73’ Ventriglia); Galli (63’ Appiah). Substitutes: Tornaghi, Di Nallo, Tosello, Testa, Langella. Head coach: Matteucci.
NEW ZEALAND: Neary; Brill, Eglinton, March, Greene (79’ Lyon); Des Fountain, D. Brazendale; Bangalan (66’ De Wit), Vlok, Benson (60’ O’Brien); Bennett (60’ L. Brazendale). Substitutes: Gray, Holland, Dunn, Bartlett, Mortlock, Duncan. Head coach: Holmes.
Referee: Garcia (MEX). Assistant referees: Quero (MEX), Juarez (MEX). Fourth official: Araya (CRC).
Goals: Ventriglia 78’, 83’; Appiah 90’.
World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Elena Belli (Inter), Erica Di Nallo (Vicenza), Lavinia Tornaghi (AC Milan);
Defenders: Martina Bressan (Inter), Martina Cocino (Aarau), Lidia Consolini (Inter), Azzurra Gallo (Toulouse), Emma Lombardi (Fiorentina), Martina Tosello (Cesena), Caterina Venturelli (Sassuolo);
Midfielders: Giada Catena (Res Donna Roma), Maya Cherubini (Fiorentina), Paola Fadda (Sassuolo), Gabriella Langella (Napoli Women), Sofia Testa (Ternana Women), Marta Zamboni (Como Women);
Forwards: Karen Appiah (Cesena), Giulia Galli (Barcelona), Giada Pellegrino Cimò (Roma), Manuela Sciabica (Lazio), Rosanna Ventriglia (Ternana Women).
Staff – Head Coach: Nicola Matteucci; Methodology Coach: Fabio Andolfo; Assistant Coach: Erika Lisi; Goalkeeper Coach: Mattia Volpi; Fitness Coaches: Lorenzo Corsi and Vincenzo Piermatteo; Match Analyst: Alessandro Rossi; Team Doctors: Michela Cammarano and Andrea Gattelli; Physiotherapists: Marco Fiore and Eugenio Zarcone; Nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta; Team Secretary: Aurora Leo.
Group D: results, standings and fixtures
Sunday 6 September
Japan 2-1 New Zealand
United States 1-2 Italy
Wednesday 9 September
Italy 3-0 New Zealand
Japan vs. United States, 18:00 CEST
Saturday 12 September
Italy vs. Japan, 15:00 CEST
New Zealand vs. United States, 15:00 CEST
Standings: Italy 6 points (2 matches played); Japan 3 (1); United States 0 (1); New Zealand 0 (2).
World Cup groups
Group A: Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Benin
Group B: Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, England
Group C: France, South Korea, Ecuador, Ghana
Group D: Japan, New Zealand, United States, ITALY
Group E: North Korea, Portugal, Costa Rica, Colombia
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, New Caledonia, China