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Italy Women's Under-20 team scripted history on their debut in the Under-20 World Cup, coming from behind to defeat the United States 2-1 and producing a result that will be remembered for a long time in Italian football. The Azzurrine were playing in this youth tournament for the first time in 14 years, having last featured in 2012, and they had never previously won a match in the finals. That changed this afternoon in the chilly Polish city of Lodz, where they earned a deserved win against a national side that represents an entire movement and had started as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Pellegrino Cimo proves decisive

The United States took the lead, but the Azzurrine responded through goals from Fadda and Pellegrino Cimo. The only genuine moment of anxiety came in the third and final minute of stoppage time, when the Americans believed they had found an equaliser. VAR needed only a few seconds to confirm the offside decision. Italy will next face New Zealand on Wednesday at 3pm, after New Zealand were beaten by Japan in their opening match.

A group triumph, a win built on character

"I am proud of everyone, from the first to the last of the girls, and of the staff as well. We know that at international level it is the group that makes the difference and that it is essential to help each other when you are in difficulty: it is all truly wonderful," captain Gallo said after the match.

"I am really proud of the girls, of the way they approached the match," manager Matteucci said after the game. "We knew," the Italy coach continued, "that we could not dominate for 90 minutes and that we had to know how to suffer, but we had prepared for all of this: the girls interpreted the situations in the best possible way, striking when they had the opportunity, with great courage and technical quality. Italy played with personality from the first to the last minute."