Italy defender Benedetta Orsi suffered an embarrassing faux pas in the women’s World Cup by scoring a bizarre own goal against South Africa.
Elena Linari had intercepted a long ball from South Africa and played it to Orsi – who was under very little pressure from Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Orsi decided to play it back to her team-mate and goalkeeper Francesca Durante but failed to look up before executing the pass.
As a result, the 23-year-old had not recognised the fact Durante was out of position and played the ball into an empty net.
Orsi was mortified as South Africa celebrated the goal in spectacular fashion, leaving her Italy team-mates to rally around her and encouraged her to keep going.
Italy defender Benedetta Orsi (right) scored a bizarre own goal against South Africa
The 23-year-old blindly passed the ball back to her goalkeeper, who was out of position
Orsi’s own goal levelled the scores between Italy and South Africa (above) on Wednesday
Goalkeeper Francesca Durante (right) consoles her team-mate after her own goal
Orsi’s mistakes gave South Africa a lifeline as Arianna Caruso had put the Italians ahead in the 11th minute of the game.
The 23-year-old midfielder scored from the penalty spot after Chiara Beccari was fouled just inside the box.
Orsi isn’t the first player to make such a massive blunder at a major tournament.
Unai Simon’s horrendous own goal against Croatia in Spain’s last-16 Euro 2020 clash was ruthlessly mocked on social media.
The Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper wanted to ground to swallow him whole after he badly miscontrolled a backwards pass by midfielder Pedri from the half-way line.
The ball deflected off his foot and bobbled into the back of the net to score the first own goal by a keeper in the history of the competition.
The mistake in the 20th minute of the game saw Spain concede a completely needless goal and give Croatia the advantage.
Unai Simon had a moment to forget as he conceded an own goal against Croatia at Euro 2020
Simon did recover after letting the first goal in and produced some fine saves in the match
Spain have a history of shaky keepers, with David de Gea guilty of a handful of errors, while Kepa Arrizabalaga has also been widely criticised for costly mistakes.
To Simon’s credit, he did recover from the glaring mistake and produced a number of top saves during the game.
Orsi and Durante will be hoping to turn their fortune around in the second half of their clash with South Africa.
South Africa need to win to finish second, otherwise Italy go through. This is because Sweden have already secured their place in the knockout stages.
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