Iceland secured another point in their quest to reach the knockout stages of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 on Thursday evening.
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Italy at the Academy Stadium, which leaves everything wide open in the hunt for second place in Group D going into the final game.
Stelpurnar okkar got off to the best possible start in the evening sunshine in Manchester – 20-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir opened the scoring inside three minutes with a powerful strike.
It was her eighth goal for the national team, and one that saw her become the youngest goalscorer for Iceland in the history of the finals.
After a cagey first half that saw only three efforts on target, Italy stepped up a gear and forced Sandra Sigurðardóttir into a flurry of good saves early in the second half.
Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir then had the opportunity to put Iceland two ahead, but she placed her effort beyond the near post.
It was a chance that Iceland would rue – only a minute later, Valentina Bergamaschi got onto the end of a cross from Barbara Bonansea and rifled a rising shot into the back of net with 62 minutes on the clock.
The momentum of the match shifted entirely, with the Italians looking the likelier to go in front – only being denied by the impressive Sigurðardóttir.
The scoreline would stay level – which leaves Iceland occupying second in the group going into their final group game.
Brynjarsdóttir and her team-mates will face France in that final match, who beat Belgium in their second group stage match.
Les Bleues were not as rampant as they were in their opening 5-1 victory over Italy - but still looked largely in control in this 2-1 win.
Kadidiatou Diani opened the scoring six minutes in, before Janice Cayman equalised for Belgium 30 minutes later.
Defender, Griedge Mbock Bathy restored the lead In the second half - whilst skipper Wendie Renard missed a penalty late on.
Hawa Cissoko was an unused substitute, but could face club team-mate Brynjarsdóttir in their final group match on Monday.
France advanced to the quarter-finals with the win, where they will face the runner-up of Group C.
