Italy received their first match within the Girls’s European Championship since 2017 as Arianna Caruso struck simply earlier than the break to provide them a 1-0 victory over Belgium of their Group B opener on Thursday.
Lucia Di Guglielmo’s fast move from the best discovered Caruso unguarded simply outdoors the field and the Bayern Munich midfielder calmly curled a right-footed shot away from keeper Lisa Lichtfus to seek out the online on the close to publish.
“It was what we wished, the primary match is all the time sophisticated,” coach Andrea Soncin informed RAI after Italy made their first successful begin within the event since 2009. “We will positively enhance and we should if we wish to proceed to develop, however I’m proud of the angle we confirmed.”
Participant of the match Caruso probed the Belgian defence with a number of makes an attempt within the first 20 minutes, after the match started with a minute’s silence following the dying of Portuguese nationwide males’s staff striker Diogo Jota in a automotive accident.
Belgium had extra of the ball within the first half and made 10 makes an attempt, two greater than Italy, however did not take the lead when Mariam Toloba shot extensive within the twenty sixth minute and Tessa Wullaert missed the goal from shut vary 4 minutes earlier than Caruso’s aim.
Lichtfus’s fast reflexes saved Cristiana Girelli’s shut vary back-flick within the sixty fourth minute to maintain Belgium within the recreation, however the 2022 quarter-finalists have been unable to seek out an equaliser as Italy made their first successful begin within the event since 2009.
Italy will proceed their marketing campaign towards Portugal on Monday, whereas Belgium play Nations League winners Spain.
“Ft on the bottom,” Soncin cautioned.