Milan, January 17 (LaPresse) – With the determination of a tiger, the refusal to give up when all seems lost, and the skill of a young team eager to impress, the Setterosa achieved a stunning comeback to defeat the United States 13-12 (3-5, 1-4, 3-3, 6-0) in the opening day of the second group stage of the World Cup in Alexandroupoli. The victory secures their qualification for the SuperFinals, scheduled for April.
The Italian women’s team, trailing 9-4 at halftime and 12-7 after three quarters, showed extraordinary grit in the final period. Goals by Cocchiere, Cassarà, Cergol, and two from Bettini leveled the score at 12-12 with three minutes remaining. Then, Giustini took center stage, capitalizing on a numerical advantage with 17 seconds left. From zone four, she fired an unstoppable shot past U.S. goalkeeper Longan, clinching the lead, the victory, and the SuperFinals spot.
Carlo Silipo’s team, bronze medalists at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, will return to the pool on Saturday at 5:00 PM local time (-1 hour in Italy) against Hungary, who defeated Israel 18-9 earlier in the day.
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