On the pitch at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand,
Andrea Di Giandomenico
's blues fought until the end and won against the Japanese team.
A game that was not easy but which in the end led to the result.
And it is a historic milestone that of the passage to the quarter-finals for the blue who then join the hosts and reigning champions from New Zealand together with Canada, England, France and Australia for the place among the last eight of the competition.
Japan with its tenacious game gave the blue a hard time, especially in the first 60 minutes.
The Japanese players, very fast despite the minute measures, after the first try of Italy by
Maria Magatti (
who scored 5-0 in the 9th minute of the first half) reacted by regaining possession and equalizing with the goal of the
Hosokawa
player ,
in the 30th minute.
Hagen Hopkins - World Rugby / World Rugby via Getty Images
The goal of Melissa Bettoni
It was a first half characterized by ups and downs by both teams and with several errors.
A good start for Italy which then got lost, but resumed in the second half, marking the game and completing the job with two interventions that changed the fate of the game: Michela Sillari
's free kick
which led to the 8- 5 in the 36th minute of the second half and the final masterpiece of Bettoni, the blue hooker and protagonist of the match.
It is the 78th minute, there are a few minutes left in the game,
Melissa Bettoni
finalizes a beautiful goal, of power and makes history.
It ends 21-8 for Italy which qualifies for the first time in its history, both of the Italian women's and men's rugby, to the knockout phase of the World Cup.
Great celebration also for
Michela Sillari
, who reaches 38 points scored at the World Cup and becomes the
best Italian scorer in the history of the event.
Hannah Peters - World Rugby / World Rugby via Getty Images
Melissa Bettoni of Italy is tackled during the 2021 Pool B Rugby World Cup match between Japan and Italy at Waitakere Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand