Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.9 2021-22

Rachel grabs late winner

Scotland 2 (Grimshaw 42, Corsie 90) Hungary 1 (Vágó 56)
Scotland scored a dramatic injury time winner to overcome a stubborn Hungary to record a third
consecutive win in their qualification campaign and maintain new Head Coach Pedro Martinez Losa’s
100% record since he took charge.
The first sight on goal for Scotland came from an unlikely source as Jennifer Beattie let fly with
a dipping volley from 20 yards. Good work down the right hand side from Rachel McLauchlan
resulted in a teasing cross into the danger zone. The Hungarian defender went for the spectacular with
the clearance, rather than focusing on efficacy, with her overhead kick teeing up Beattie for a strike
that brought a spectacular save from Szocs in the Hungarian goal.
Scotland had to wait until the 22nd minute for their next true sight on goal came, Claire Emslie
picking the ball up just inside the Hungarian half. The winger drove forward down the left wing before
cutting inside, her right-footed drive failing to test the keeper as it flew past the near post.
Scotland were beginning to find their groove, Emslie once again proving difficult for the
Hungarians to handle. Her cross to Ross from the left found its way back to her on the touchline, with
her first time ball in to close to the goalkeeper, who managed to hold on under pressure from Erin
Cuthbert. Bullish play from Erin Cuthbert saw her drive from deep on the 30-minute mark, cutting
inside from the left before attempting a shot from distance. Though blocked, the ricochet fell kindly
for Cuthbert, who was able to take it on the chest and continue into the box, only for a desperate
sliding challenge to prevent a shot from ten yards out.
The breakthrough came on 33 minutes when a whipped Weir corner kick found the head of the
onrushing Beattie in the six yard box. Her header was firm but too close to Szocs, who was able to palm
it away for another corner. With Scotland starting to turn the screw and Hungary offering little going
forward the breakthrough was becoming nigh-on inevitable and it duly arrived on the 42nd minute.
A deep, angled cross from Nicola Docherty on the left somehow evaded the defence and landed
at the feet of Christy Grimshaw on the edge of the six yard box. With the goal gaping, the winger made
no mistake with the finish, burying a low strike to give Scotland the lead they so desperately craved
for half time to the delight of the crowd.
Though the hosts were doing all the attacking, the danger always remained that Hungary could
snatch something while the score remained 1-0 and the unthinkable duly happened on the 56th
minute. A slack pass from Nicola Docherty on the left flank gifted possession to Hungary in a
dangerous area. The Hungarians capitalised on the opportunity, doing well to work it to Vágó inside
the Scotland penalty area, who stunned the home side with a rifled shot into the top corner from ten
yards out that left Lee Alexander with no chance.
The home side came again, another fizzed-in Weir corner flicked on at the near post to Beattie,
whose sliding, goalbound effort was spectacularly blocked by a desperate defence. The sense of
urgency from Scotland was now palpable, and Martinez Losa opted for another double change to try
and force a winner, Chloe Arthur and Rachael Boyle replacing Rachel McLauchlan and Nicola
Docherty on the 78th minute.
Erin Cuthbert almost snatched a last-gasp winner on the 89th minute when she was put clean
through on goal, but her dinked finish was clawed away by the Hungarian keeper. The subsequent
corner saw the ball recycled and when a cross was wasn’t dealt with by the defence, Captain Rachel
Corsie was on hand to bury a header into the net for the second injury time Scotland winner at
Hampden in the space of a few weeks to send the Scotland fans into raptures.
Scotland: Lee Alexander, Rachel McLauchlan (sub Rachael Boyle 73mins), Rachel Corsie, Jennifer
Beattie, Nicola Docherty (sub Chloe Arthur 73mins), Lisa Robertson (sub Lisa Evans 63mins), Erin
Cuthbert, Caroline Weir, Christy Grimshaw (sub Lucy Graham 63mins), Jane Ross (sub Lana
Clelland 86mins), Claire Emslie. Subs not used: Jenna Fife, Sophie Howard, Jenna Clark, Kirsty
Hanson, Lauren Davidson, Eartha Cumings, Zoe Ness. (www.scottishfa.co.uk)
Scotland beaten by Sweden
Scotland 0 Sweden 2
In a lively start to proceedings under the floodlights at the SMISA Stadium, Caroline Weir looked to
test Swedish stopper Jennifer Falk early on, but her right-footed effort from outside the box was
smothered well by the goalkeeper.
The visitors began to assert their quality, enjoying large spells of possession in Scotland
territory but failing to test Fife between the sticks. It took until the half hour mark before Scotland’s
keeper was called in to action, tipping over a Filippa Angeldal shot which was assisted by the howling
Issue no. 9 - 28 October 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk