Imagine the following: Kerstin and Margo have just come down from the Sky Tower. It's around mid-day. Someone says, "What do you want to do tonight?" The other says, "I wonder who's playing tonight and if there are tickets?" Well, the answers were 1) Italy v Argentina and 2) Yes! Not only were there tickets, there were "Cat 3" tickets for a whopping $20 NZ dollars (~14 USD or 18 CAD). So we found ourselves high up enough to have a great view of the field situated just past the Italian goal keeper's shoulder (in the first half). These felt better than many of the Cat 2 tickets (which are a whopping $30 NZD).
We had no idea what we were in for, but it was a clear (albeit cool) evening, we wanted to check out the train for transportation to/from the stadium, and well, what else do you do in Auckland on a Monday night? The Argentinian fans were out in full force.
This turned out to be a spectacular match. Italy seemed the dominant team, but Argentina had a very speedy and skillful left wing (or maybe it was left mid???), Estefania Banini, who made for some dramatically exciting play right in front of us. In the opening minute, Argentina's Mariana Larroquette, appeared to be ready to secure a 1-0 lead, but her rocket went just a tad wide.
Perhaps that was the wakeup call needed for Italy to take control. Both teams move the ball beautifully, but Italy definitely had the edge and a significant majority of possession. And then at the 15 minute mark, Italy puts one in the net, only to have it called offsides (the VAR makes these calls now unquestionable). Nearly thirty minutes later, history repeats itself: Italy takes the ball down the side, finds net, and ... OFFSIDES! One of these times, the goal is going to have to not be offsides, right? But at the end of the half, it was 0-0.
That match continued gaining momentum and excitement throughout the 2nd half. By the 80 minute mark, it seemed that the teams were destined to fight to a 0-0 draw. But an 83rd minute sub brought veteran striker Cristina Girelli onto the field. And four minutes later, on counterattack, Girelli blasts the ball into the left side of the goal, with not an offsides call anywhere in site. Italy 1-0!
The remaining 10 minute (7 minutes of stoppage time -- VAR adds a lot of stoppage time to games these days) were a frenzied back and forth up and down the field. There were many heart stopping near misses, but neither team found net and so we ended with a breathtaking 1-0 win for Italy. This was definitely one of the most exciting matches of the tournament (and we have watched nearly every game so far, either online or in person).
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