VALENCIENNES, France — Barbara Bonansea is used to the gentle teasing from her teammates: How can someone so tall, they ask her, be so bad at heading the ball?

On Sunday afternoon, Bonansea surprised everyone — her teammates, the defenders around her, herself — by popping up, putting her head to a swerving free kick in the waning moments of injury time, and heading in the goal that gave Italy a 2-1 win over Australia at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes, France.

It was Italy’s first Women’s World Cup game in 20 years, and the unlikely goal — Bonansea’s second of the afternoon — provided an emotional, unexpected bookend.

“I’m tall, but when I jump, I close my body and my eyes,” Bonansea said, laughing, moments after stepping off the field. “Today, I looked at the ball,” she added, pointing to her eyes and furrowing her brow, “and: goal.”