Italy Women kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2022 alive by managing to score one point in a (1-1) draw with Iceland.
 Italy (W) | 1-1 |  Iceland (W) |
Goals: Vilhjálmsdóttir. K (3′) – (0-1). Bergamaschi V. (62′) – (1-1).
Italy famously lost to France (5-1) and they were looking at an early exit when Carolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir put Iceland ahead within three minutes at the Academy Stadium in Manchester.
But Valentina Bergamaschi equalized in the 62nd minute and although Italy failed to win, a victory over Belgium in the final group match could have been enough to take them out of the game. The draw left Iceland in second place and Italy in last place in Group D, which also includes France and Belgium.
Iceland, having drawn against Belgium in their first game, took the lead. A long shot from Sveindis by Jane Jonsdottir caused panic in the Italian box, while midfielder Vilhjalmsdottir fired a shot that hit the post.
Italy, after the conceded, were looking to level the score and finally got it right after the hour mark, when Bergamaschi timed her run perfectly to meet a pullback from substitute Barbara Bonansi.
The equalizer was a disappointment for Iceland, as it came just a minute after Alexandra Johannsdottir missed an opportunity to double her lead with a free-kick despite having plenty of room.
Italy struggled to score a second goal when Bonansi hit a low in the 73rd minute, while Iceland regretted missing chances as Vilhjalmsdóttir didn’t convert an easy chance with three minutes left.
What’s next?
Group D will end on 18 July. France, who won their first match, are in the best position to top the group, but second place is yet to come. Iceland will play France while Italy will play Belgium after a significant improvement in the second round.