Friday 3rd March
CYPRUS CUP
GROUP A: Switzerland 1-0 North Korea, Italy 1-4 Belgium
GROUP B: Austria 3-0 New Zealand, Scotland 0-2 South Korea
GROUP C: Wales 0-0 Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland 0-0 Hungary
Timely winner for Swiss, Belgian Red Flames burn Italy
Switzerland’s Rahel Siwic struck 2 minutes from time to get the only goal of the game against North Korea, which lifted the Swiss above them into second spot.
Belgium beat Italy 4-1 to lead Group A, despite Daniella Sabatino scoring 9 minutes in for the Azurri. Tess Wullaert levelled within seconds from a penalty and Elien van Wynendaele made it 2-1 before half time.
Maud Coutereels gave the Red Flames some breathing space on 64 minutes and Davina Philtjens made sure of the points with the fourth goal.
Austria and South Korea victories damage Scottish hopes
Austria’s 3-0 defeat of New Zealand sees them lead Group B on goal-difference. They went in one thanks to Nicole Billa’s effort on 19 minutes.
Verena Aschauer doubled the lead 8 minutes after the restart and Jasmin Eder rounded off the scoring.
Austria’s starting XI (oefb.at)
Scotland were defeated 2-0 in a tough encounter against South Korea and will now have to win their final group game against Austria and hope other results go their way for a chance to contest in the final, reports scottishfa.co.uk.
27-year-old Jane Ross came on after 62 minutes for her 100th cap and commented: “It’s always an honour to represent your country so to reach 100 is a huge privilege. It was disappointing to lose the game though especially as we played well in spells and created some chances which, on a different day, could have helped win us the match.”
Scotland lost a goal within 3 minutes of the restart, as Chelsea’s Ji So-Yun collected the ball on the periphery of the box and let fly with a ferocious shot which flew into the corner.
Fiona Brown went close when she broke free but saw her low, driven shot fly inches wide and Leanne Ross had an opportunity too when she found herself free of the defence but a lacklustre shot trickled harmlessly wide.
The Koreans then edged further ahead when Kirsty Smith brought down Lee Guemmin in the box and their skipper Cho So Hyun hit the net from the penalty spot.
Scotland: Shannon Lynn, Frankie Brown (Kirsty Smith, 45), Ifeoma Dieke, Jenny Beattie, Emma Mitchell, Leanne Ross (Lisa Evans, 62), Caroline Weir (Lizzie Arnot, 62), Kim Little, Jo Love (Leanne Crichton, 73), Erin Cuthbert (Jane Ross, 62), Fiona Brown (Christie Murray, 78).
Ireland and Wales lead after goalless games
Wales made a good start against the Czech Republic, Kayleigh Green coming close with numerous chances in the first 20 minutes, while Natasha Harding saw a shot clear the crossbar, reports faw.cymru.
Laura O’Sullivan did well not to concede on several occasions in the first half, tipping the ball over the cross bar from a corner while also later collecting a fierce free kick before Petra Bertholdova took a strike at goal that was blocked by Gemma Evans.
Before the half time whistle, Czech Republic turned up the heat resulting in two opportunities but another superb block from Evans and a sliding tackle from Angharad James kept the scores level.
Wales came out fighting in the second half, remaining in the Czech Republic half for the majority with chances from Green and Evans.
When Jessica Fishlock played the ball over the top to Green, the centre-back returned it to the keeper but almost conceded an own-goal in the process.
Wales had a chance to snatch all three points in the remaining minutes of the game with opportunities from James and then Rachel Rowe with an overhead shot.
Republic of Ireland and Hungary also drew a blank, although Ireland were gifted the best chance of the game with just one minute on the clock, as Megan Connolly closed the keeper down but after winning the ball, her shot was blocked, reports fai.ie.
Harriet Scott, in just her second appearance, burst down the left to find Aine O’Gorman with a low cross, but the striker saw her shot well saved.
A minute after the break, the tireless Katie McCabe worked a neat position just outside the area after a weighted-flick from Stephanie Roche, who claimed her 50th cap, but her powerful effort was well saved.
Hungary could have won the game with just under 30 minutes to go as they were awarded a penalty after O’Gorman fouled Gabriella Toth in the area but Fanni Vago’s spot-kick went well wide of Marie Hourihan’s right-hand post.
After the final whistle, Head Coach Colin Bell was delighted with the character and the effort shown from the group.
Bell said: “I’m really pleased with the group. It was a really intensive match against a really strong side in Hungary who have played together for some time.
“They stuck to the game-plan and even when they made mistakes, the effort levels to recover was fantastic. We should have been 1-0 up at half-time if we took our chances.
“We had a little bit of luck in the second half with the penalty miss but I think we deserved as Hungary didn’t create another chance in the entire 90 minutes.”
Fixtures for Monday 6th March:
GROUP A (12.30): Italy v Switzerland, North Korea v Belgium
GROUP B (3.30): Austria v Scotland, New Zealand v South Korea
GROUP C: Republic of Ireland v Wales (12.30), Czech Republic v Hungary (3.30)
Pictured top – Belgium’s starting XI. (@BelRedFlames)
