Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.20 2022-23

Iceland 2 (Kristinsdottir 50, 51)
Scotland 0
Scotland were beaten 2-0 by Iceland in the opening match of the Pinatar Cup, going down to
two second half goals from Olof Kristinsdottir.
Pedro Martinez Losa handed a first start to Brogan Hay for the Pinatar Cup opener
against Iceland. Captain Rachel Corsie was joined in defence by Nicola Docherty, Fiona
Brown and Sophie Howard. Sam Kerr, Erin Cuthbert and Caroline Weir played through the
middle with Hay and Claire Emslie on either side of Kirsty Hanson up front.
Erin Cuthbert got proceedings underway in front of a small but lively cohort of Scotland
fans. With the wind behind them, Scotland had the best of the opening 10 minutes with
Emslie, Weir and Hay driving the team forward.
Johannsdottir looked to make some progress down the left-side on the 12th minute for
Iceland, Howard cleared the danger with ease.
Scotland got their first corner of the game in the 14th minute, Weir almost floated the
ball home direct from the corner kick, but it narrowly missed and nestled in the roof of the
net.
On 19 minutes, Weir layed the ball off to the left inside the 18-yard box, Emslie flashed
a shot across the face of goal. Two wonderful chances followed in quick succession, Howard
hit the post whilst Corsie just tapped the ball wide.
Momentum was definitely building as Scotland continued to dominate possession
around the half hour mark. On 32 minutes, Hay had the chance to bag her first Scotland goal
from close range when Sigurdardottir couldn’t contain a shot from Weir, but the winger’s
shot flashed just wide of the near post.
Emslie attempted to break the deadlock again in the 40th minute as she collected the
ball just inside the box, but she couldn’t keep the shot down. Iceland had their first shot on
goal in the 42nd minute, Andradottir with a low and powerful drive which didn’t trouble
Gibson as it flew past her near post.
Nothing to separate the two sides at the half-time break, despite total domination from
Scotland in the opening 45 minutes.
It was Iceland who started brighter in the second-half, two goals in quick succession
from Kristinsdottir provided the advantage.
On 58 minutes Emslie, Weir, Hay, Hanson and Hay made way for Thomas, Harrison,
Davidson and Murray.
Harrison tried to make her presence felt on 62 minutes, driving into the box with a shot
turned away for a corner. Thomas with a shot from distance a few minutes later, but it was
deflected out for another corner.
Iceland had the chance to make it three on 72 minutes, but Gibson saves the shot from
Dorvaldsdottir. A few minutes later, Davidson with an effort just wide for Scotland.
Thomas and Harrison continued to try and create opportunities in the closing stages of
the game but just couldn’t make the breakthrough. Corsie drilled a long-range effort wide just
before the 90th minute.
Following a tough second half for Scotland, the game ended in a 2-0 defeat.
Scotland: Lee Gibson, Nicola Docherty, Rachel Corsie, Sophie Howard, Fiona Brown (sub
Kirsty Smith 67mins), Samantha Kerr, Caroline Weir (sub Christie Murray 58mins), Kirsty
Hanson (sub Martha Thomas 58mins), Claire Emslie (sub Abi Harrison 58mins), Erin
Cuthbert, Brogan Hay (sub Lauren Davidson 58mins). Subs not used: Jenna Fife, Eartha
Cumings, Emma Mukandi, Kelly Clark, Lisa Evans, Jamie-Lee Napier, Chloe Arthur, Jenna
Clark, Claire Grimshaw.
(www.scottishfa.co.uk)
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk