Full Time in Eden Park where Italy have beaten Argentina in their opening game of this year’s World Cup in Group G. An 87^th minute winner from super sub Cristiana Girelli saw Italy win in dramatic fashion.

The match had a frantic pace to it for the first 15 minutes, with both sides desperate to make a bright start. The Italians put Argentina under some serious pressure in the opening four minutes as they looked to challenge goalkeeper Vanina Correa and the rest of her defence with some really challenging crosses.

Italy were more physical in the air, and were able to get touches on the crosses, causing a real problem for the Argentinians early on.

Italy enjoyed numerous corners in the opening five minutes, and looked to swarm Correa in her six-yard box. The veteran goalkeeper dealt with this early onslaught well, and was able to produce some excellent punches to clear the danger for her side.

Down the other end, Argentinian superstar Estefania Banini was inches away from stealing the ball away from Elena Linari on the half-way line for what would have been a 40-metre one-on-one in which Banini surely would have scored.

Linari recovered well from her slip to deny Banini the chance to drive towards goal, and the Italian segment of the crowd could release a huge sigh of relief.

It was an opening half that saw the Italians put the ball in the back of the net twice, both efforts being ruled out by the lines official. Firstly, Arianna Caruso produced a wonderful effort from 18 yards, dancing around the Argentinian defenders before unleashing an amazing shot that curled into the right-hand side-netting. The flag was raised immediately.

25 minutes later, veteran striker Valentina Giacinti also put the ball in the back of the net; she received the ball on the edge of the box, driving at the defence, losing her marker. Giacinti powered her effort into the left-hand corner, but again the official rightly raised her flag and the score-line was still even.

The second non-goal seemed to spark Argentina into life, as they succumbed to the idea that they could easily have been 2-0 down inside 40 minutes. For the remaining five minutes, they pressed ruthlessly from the front and created a number of half-chances.

With Banini leading the line, Mariana Laroquette and Romina Nunez forced the Italian defence into a number of mistakes, conceding several corners late in the half. Argentina would be unable to turn these chances into goals, but they proved that they would be no easy push-over.

There was a real shift in ideology from Argentina at the start of the second half. Rather than continuing to put pressure on Italy as they had done throughout the first half, particularly in the closing five minutes, Argentina instead adopted a more defensive approach.

They employed a low block defence early on in this second half, hoping to catch Italy on the counter attack. It seemed a strange shift in tactics considering the pressure they were able to put Italy under at times in the first half, German Portanova sensing greater opportunities for a first World Cup victory later on in the group.

A foul on Italian captain Barbara Bonansea gave the Italians a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Manuela Giuglino stepped up to take the set piece, her effort skimming the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Giuglino was just inches away from opening the scoring.

Despite their defensive set up for the second half, Argentina proved that they were still dangerous, especially from set pieces. A free kick in the 48^th minute from Argentina’s Eliana Stabile proved testing for Francesca Durante, who found herself scrambling on her goal-line to clear the ball away.

Again in the 70^th minute, Argentina looked to put pressure on Durante in goal, who had looked uncomfortable from set pieces throughout the game, and came within inches of scoring through Larroquette.

With 6 minutes to play, 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni was replaced by the experienced Cristiana Girelli as Italy searched for a goal to break the deadlock. Just two minutes later, the substitution proved to be a masterstroke as Girelli got a wonderful header on the end of a dangerous Lisa Boattin cross.

Girelli’s guided header wrong-footed Correa in the Argentinian goal and the ball sailed into the top-right corner. Suber sub Girelli had broken the deadlock with just five minutes to play.

Argentina refused to back down, and mounted the pressure on the Italians late on in the game, forcing Durante to make a number of late saves.

Italy would go on to hold out for the win in their first game of this World Cup in what was an impressive performance in a tight game in Eden Park this morning.

Full Time Italy 1-0 Argentina