Full-back Sateki Tuipulotu hit a drop goal with the last kick of the game to snatch a 28-25 victory for Tonga in their Group B encounter with Italy at Leicester yesterday. The Italians had just levelled the scores moments earlier when outhalf Diego Dominguez struck a superb penalty from 40 yards out.
But as the referee checked his watch Tuipulotu - a veteran of the 1995 World Cup and who was only playing because of a suspension to Siua Taumalolo - steadied himself and swept the ball through the posts from 30 metres out.
With one minute of normal time to go, the Italians, severely criticised at home after their 67-7 humiliation by England at Twickenham last week, seemed set for victory after dominating the Tongans for most of the match.
They led 22-18 but as the Tongans laid siege to their line substitute Isi Fatani finally found a gap in the defence and muscled over for a try.
Italy are now virtually certain to leave the World Cup without a win as their final group match pitches them against the might of New Zealand. The Pacific Islanders were trailing 6-0 after half an hour when winger Taunaholo Taufahema, who has also represented Tonga at football as well as New Zealand in sevens rugby, sparked a revival with a superb break.
There seemed no way through the Italian defence when Taufahema received the ball 40 metres out but a burst of acceleration and a sidestep saw him power under the posts for Tonga's first points.
But Taufahema twisted his ankle as he burst over the line and was forced to retire 12 minutes into the second period.
Tuipulotu converted and soon scored a try of his own when he intercepted a pass just inside the Italian half and raced clear to score.
He failed with the conversion but the Tongans were suddenly leading 12-6.
Italian goal-kicking specialist Diego Dominguez, who had put the Europeans in front with two early penalties, fluffed a third but made no mistake with his fourth attempt at goal.
Italy had enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but it was the Tongans who went further in front when Tuipulotu slotted two penalties in quick succession.
Dominguez kept the Italians in touch with the last kick of the half, making no mistake with a 35-metre penalty and reduced the gap to three points with his fifth successful kick from six attempts.
Hooker Alessandro Moscardi, booked five minutes earlier for stamping, put the Europeans in front when he barged over from close range. Dominguez converted to put Italy 22-18 in front.
Moscardi, though, wasted the clearest chance of the match for a try that would have put Italy in the clear when he ignored a four-man overlap five metres out and was hauled down by the sole Tongan defender. It proved a crucial miss.
Italy: M Pini; P Vaccari, C Stoica, F Ceppolino, F Roselli; D Dominguez, A Troncon; S Saviozzi, C Caione, M Giovanelli (capt), M Giacheri, C Checchinato, A Castellani, A Moscardi, A Moreno. Replacements - A Moretti, N Mazzucato. Not used: F Mazzariol, G Mazzi, O Arancio, W Cristofolettoi, F Properzi-Curti.
Yellow card: Dominguez, Moscardi, Checchinato
Tonga: S Tuipulotu; T Taufahema, S Taupeaafe, E Vunipola (capt), E Taione; B Woolley, S Martens; K Tuipulotu, S Koloi, D Edwards, B Kivalu, F Mafi, N Tau, L Maka, T Faingaanuku. Replacements - I Tapueluelu, M Te Pou, I Fatani. Not used - S Tuipulotu, T Tiueti, T Penisini, P Faletau.
Yellow card: Mafi
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
Attendance: 7,000
