STEVE MCMORRAN
Thembi Kgatlana scored early in stoppage time to give South Africa a 3-2 win over Italy on Wednesday and a spot in the knockout rounds of a Women’s World Cup for the first time.
On a night of high drama and low temperatures, Hilda Magaia scored in the 67th minute to put South Africa 2-1 ahead before Arianna Caruso equalized with her second goal of the match, briefly denting South African hopes.
A draw would have been enough to put eighth-ranked Italy into the knockout rounds.
Instead, Kgatlana’s clincher means it’ll be South Africa playing Netherlands in a round of 16 match on Sunday. Sweden finished atop Group G after beating Argentina 1-0 and will next play the defending champion U.S. team.
The winning goal came two minutes into stoppage time and as part of a series of extraordinary moments as South Africa led and seemed to be
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