Barbara Bonansea headed in a corner kick five minutes into second-half injury time — her second goal of the game — to give Italy a 2-1 victory over Australia in Valenciennes on Sunday.
It was a triumphant return to the World Cup for Italy, a power in men’s soccer that was making their first appearance in the Women’s World Cup since 1999.
Bonansea, a 27-year-old who also powers the attack of her Italian club Juventus, also scored her team’s first goal, stripping the Australian defender Clare Polkinghorne and slotting home a shot in the 56th minute.
Bonansea also had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half after a video review confirmed she had started her run near midfield from an offside position.