In the final game of day five at the 2024 Women’s U20 Championship with a playoff spot on the line on another rainy afternoon in Hong Kong, Italy dug deep for a gritty 11-10 win over Scotland.
Scotland scored the first three goals of the game at Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, with the urgency of a team chasing its own playoff spot, and led 7-1 after 21 minutes.
Little by little, Italy chipped away with the help of some spectacular goalkeeping to cut the lead to three by halftime, and then to one in the third quarter. Scotland answered twice in the period with goals from Carys Bucknall to restore the lead to two, before Italy found a goal from Gabby Chiappetta with under three minutes left in the third.
The Italian tide would not be stopped and the team scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter in just over two minutes to tie the game and then take the lead.
Scotland had one more riposte with an Anna Hutchinson strike less than a minute later, as the game careened towards a nervy ending.
But Ainsley James gave Italy an 11-10 lead with just over six minutes to play on a free position shot, and Italy held on the rest of the way with strong defense.
With the comeback win, Italy, improved to 3-1 with wins over Scotland, Mexico and New Zealand in Pool C, good for second place in the pool. This championship is Italy’s first appearance in the event, and it is the fifth team to secure a playoff spot.
Italy will play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday seeded between #5 and #8, dependent on the final results of pool play.
Goalkeeper Hannah Gilland was named the player of the match and finished with six saves.
Ainsley James scored the game winning goal and finished with a team-high three for Italy, but it was a balanced effort with seven players chipping in. Zola LeDonne had a goal and two assists and Gabby Chiappetta had seven wins on draw controls.
Scotland nearly escaped the win, and had a strongattacking showing from Katie McLeod, Rowan Scobie, Anna Hutchison and Carys Bucknall, who all scored multiple goals. Tabby Black had three assists as well and Scobie made four saves in the second half as a goalkeeper.
Scotland closes out pool play on Tuesday against New Zealand in an important contest for seeding ahead of placement play.
