Page 19 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

Harrison salvages point for Scotland

Scotland 1 Ukraine 1
at Hampden Park
Scotland continued their unbeaten form within Group B with a well deserved 1-1 draw against
a defensively astute Ukraine side. Although the result is bittersweet for Scotland, as they were
dominating the game for large parts and had to wait until the 93rd minute for Abi Harrison to
grab a late equaliser and take something from the game.
With an opening 20 minutes consisting of Scotland dominating the ball, the visitors
who hadn’t been involved in the game at all, were able to open the Scots up with one pass from
Anna Petryk, who played a perfectly timed through ball into the path of the lone striker
Roksolana Kravchuk, who had plenty of time to slot her shot into the bottom left-hand corner
from ten yards out, giving Ukraine the lead with their first shot on target.
Soon after Ukraine took the lead, Scotland also registered their first shot on target
through new addition Abi Harrison, who had pounced onto a flick on, to quickly nutmeg the
advancing Ukraine defender, only for her tame effort to roll into the hands of Daryna
Bondarchuk.
Harrison was again involved in the action on the 38th minute, after latching onto a
heavy through pass, she carried the ball another 20 yards until she blasted a shot from the top
right corner of the box. Unfortunately, her powerful strike that was goalbound, was met
impressively by Ukrainian shot stopper Bondarchuk to deny Scotland from levelling.
Early in the second half, Scotland were piling on the pressure and nearly scored
through Erin Cuthbert’s corner, which was met with a glancing header by substitute Sophie
Howard, but her effort narrowly glided over the bar.
Just before the hour mark, Scotland came as close as you can to score without putting
the ball in the back of the net. Caroline Weir had rattled a long range strike down the centre of
the goal from 25 yards out, albeit Bondarchuk was there yet again to tip the strike onto the bar
and out for a corner kick.
In the 71st minute Scotland were presented with an excellent chance to draw level
through skipper Rachel Corsie. Seconds after Ukraine had cleared from Scotland’s corner,
Rachael Boyle was switched on at the edge of the box, to guide a floated ball into the back post
where it was met by Corsie who was unmarked. Fortunately for Ukraine, Daryna
Apanaschenko was quick enough to react to the cross and provided a last ditch challenge to
prevent Corsie from passing it into the back of the net.
Christy Grimshaw came extremely close shortly after this chance through a well struck
half volley, although Ukraine’s solid defensive display continued as her strike was blocked,
narrowly flying past the outside of the post.
Constant pressure was followed by Scotland, with many wide balls floated into the box
with little success. Nevertheless, Scotland’s perseverance was finally rewarded with just one
minute left to play. Corsie had lofted a long ball from deep in her own half, for it to be
misjudged by Lyubov Shmatko. This set off substitute Lana Clelland, who was able to drive
down the line and play a direct cross into the six yard box which met the head of Scotland’s hero
Abi Harrison, to secure a point in the dying embers of the game.
Scotland: Lee Alexander, Rachel Corsie, Jennifer Beattie (sub Sophie Howard 45mins),
Christy Grimshaw (sub Lana Clelland 79mins), Rachael Boyle, Caroline Weir, Lucy Graham
(sub Jane Ross 69mins), Lisa Evans, Chloe Arthur, Abi Harrison, Erin Cuthbert. Subs not
used: Jenna Fife, Eartha Cumings, Rachel McLauchlan, Nicola Docherty, Lisa Robertson,
Christie Murray, Amy Muir, Jenna Clark, Lizzie Arnot.
Ukraine: Daryna Bondarchuk, Lyubov Shmatko, Kateryna Korsun, Olha Basanska,
Veronika Andrukhiv (sub Yulila Shevchuk 56mins), Anna Petryk, Yana Kalinina (sub
Tetyana Kitayeva 69mins), Daryna Apanaschenko, Roksolana Kravchuk (sub Yana
Malakhova 90mins), Olha Ovdiychuk (sub Nadiia Kunina 69mins), Tamila Khimich. Subs
Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com