Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.30(2) 2021-22

Resilient Scotland push Spain hard

Scotland 0
Spain 2 (Hermoso 14,78)
att: 7,804; at Hampden Park, Glasgow
Scotland produced a hugely resilient display against the
world’s seventh best side Spain, before eventually losing
2-0 to a Jennifer Hermoso double in front of a 7,804
strong crowd at Hampden Park – a record for a women’s
competitive international in the country.
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa made
five changes from his side’s last match against Hungary in
the Pinatar Cup, with Lisa Evans and Erin Cuthbert
returning from injury and Claire Emslie, Lee Alexander
and Martha Thomas all coming into the starting eleven.
Scotland started brightly, with Caroline Weir
finding space in the box in the opening 30 seconds but her
low drilled cross could not find any team mates. The
visitors soon grew into the game, however, with Jennifer Mine! Scotland captain Rachel Corsie climbs
Hermoso having the first effort on goal but Scotland above Nicola Docherty to head away
goalkeeper Alexander was equal to it. (Colin Poultney/collargeimages.co.uk).
It was Hermoso who then put Spain in front in the
14th minute, slotting home from the penalty spot after Nicola Docherty was adjudged to have
tripped Alexia Putellas in the area.
Scotland reacted well to going behind and pressed forward, cheered on by the home
crowd which included lots of young fans. A brilliant turn and switch of play from Weir freed
Emslie down the left but her deep cross just evaded Abi Harrison at the back post.
Cuthbert, who sat out the recent Pinatar Cup with an injury, was a constant threat on
her return to the side, and her jinking run down the right brought cheers from the crowd before
her cross was eventually blocked.
Spain then thought they had a second in the 35th minute, as Putellas – the current FIFA
Best Player – headed in via the bar from a free kick but the goal was chalked off for offside.
It was a wholehearted display from the hosts, and four players were shown yellow cards
in the opening period – Alexander for a late challenge when rushing out of her goal – as their
highly-ranked opponents were limited to merely a few chances as the first half drew to a close.
Spain dominated possession but Scotland were showing a defensive resilience,
encapsulated by a committed block by captain Corsie to deny Esther Gonzalez as the second
period began.
Gonzalez then shot straight at Alexander before Scotland produced their best move of
the half, as substitute Lana Clelland released Emslie but the winger could not bring the ball
under control and the Spain defence regrouped to crowd her out.
The move seemed to encourage the hosts and Emslie had a shot blocked as they began
to string some slick moves together and they thought they had found an equaliser when Thomas
latched onto a sumptuous Cuthbert through ball and rounded the goalkeeper before sliding
home, but the midfielder was adjudged to have strayed offside by the official in a very tight call.
Scotland continued to press though and they were inches away from a leveller again in
the 73rd minute, as Cuthbert’s shot from the edge of the area deflected narrowly wide of the
target.
Issue no. 30 - 14 April 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk