Benedetta Orsi of Italyâs World Cup womenâs Soccer team entered the sports Hall of Shame Tuesday after her intended pass to Italyâs goalkeeper rolled into her own teamâs net.
The mistake gave a lift to the South African team, which was down 1-0 at the time and went on to knock Italy out of the World Cup with a 3-2 victory.
Italyâs Elena Linari had kicked the ball over to Orsi, 23, who was being lightly guarded at the time by a South African player, according to the U.K. Daily Mail.
Then came a moment immortalized in video played countless times around the globe.
Orsi decided she would kick the ball back to goalkeeper Francesca Durante. She kicked first and looked second.
Durante was not in position to receive the pass, and so the ball rolled on until it entered the net, leading to a South African goal as Orsi looked stricken with horror at what she had done.
âDevastation for Italy!â one announced called out.
âWow. Nobody was expecting that. Italy were in control,â BBC commentator Sue Smith said, according to Britainâs Daily Star.
âShe doesnât look, and the keeper isnât in any sort of position because she thinks sheâs going out wide,â Smith said.
Italy took the lead again after Arianna Caruso scored her second goal of the game. However, two more goals from South Africaâs Hildah Magaia and Thembi Kgatlana secured that teamâs victory and eliminated Italy from the World Cup.
Italy had been ranked 16th by FIFA, while South Africa was ranked 54th.
Orsiâs mistake became fodder for social media commentary.
âI think that South Africa played better than us and deserved to win,â Italyâs coach Milena Bertolini said, according to The Washington Post.
Italyâs players were stunned by their defeat.
âI really donât know,â Durante said after the match. âI donât know what didnât work.â
âI donât think I can find the right words in this moment,â Caruso said. âI am not happy because we scored two goals, and we didnât do anything.â
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.