Achievement for the Italian team coached by Salvatore: from 0-1 to 3-1 with a bit of anxiety and thanks to goals from Bertè, Borges and Vanelli
Even a draw was enough, but the women’s national futsal team doesn’t like easy things. However, the goal achieved counts: at the World Cup – the first in history – currently taking place in Manila, Italy overturned Iran, thus earning the quarter-final on December 2nd against the strong Portugal. After overwhelming Panama 17-0 on their debut and taking a beating against Brazil (6-1), an ‘X’ sign against Iran in the last match of Group D was enough for the Azzurri coached by coach Francesca Salvatore to qualify for the quarter-finals. Up until now, Italy had shown a certain technical superiority over the Iranians, who however entered the direct clash – effectively like a round of 16 match – with weapons capable of annoying Italy: aggression, pace, speed, strong defense, ferocious counterattacks. And in the end the match was exactly as expected, but it became terribly complicated after Iran’s 1-0 in the middle of the first half (a dirty ball kicked by goalkeeper Tavasoli, in an offensive projection) which forced Coppari and his teammates to chase.
the comeback
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A breathless race in an attempt to impact the match which found its outlet only 20 actual minutes later: in the space of half a minute, in fact, first a dig from Berté, then Borges’ desperate attack in front of goal gave Italy a deadly one-two which overturned the emotional plan, but above all the result and the fate of the qualification. Up 2-1, Italy in fact had two goals to defend and when Iran brought on the goalkeeper, Gaby Vanelli’s goal ended the game. The number 10 of the Azzurre who, in addition to the goal that made it 3-1, signed the match with a continuous offensive push, immediately admitted: “We knew it would be a very intense and tough match, we suffered and the result came out little by little. I’m happy for all the sacrifice that the team put into every ball.”