Goals and a shootout in Glasgow on day 4 at the EuroHockey Championships II

27th July 2016: Day four in Glasgow brought plenty goals as the final positions were cemented for the semi-finals day on Friday. It was a good day for Scotland with both the boys and the girls finishing top of their pools.

27 July 2016 at the National Hockey Centre, Glasgow Green, Scotland.
EuroHockey U18 Championships II. Day 4
France v Belarus

Day four got off to an exciting start when France girls won a very even game with Belarus after a dramatic shootout to separate them at the top of the table. With the first half ending goalless Karina Zhuk scored on 37 minutes to give Belarus the lead. Delfina Gaspari equalised for France on 55 minutes from a penalty corner. With the teams even on points and goals at the top of the table, it took a dramatic finish to separate them with France winning a shootout 4-1 to top the group.

Lithuania girls defeated Ukraine in an entertaining opening match on pitch 1. Ukraine took the lead when Oleksandra Bilous scored a tap in under pressure from three defenders 9 minutes.

Lithuania looked good in attack and they were unlucky when Dovile Juraite hit the post after a great run into the D. Ukrainian goalkeeper Kateryna Pokidko produced a great save from a shot by Kotryna Kartanovic at the top corner. The keeper couldn’t deny Lithuania for long and Rosita Klevickaite levelled the score on 44 minutes.

Dovile Juraite snatched the win for Lithuania with 9 seconds remaining to ensure they finish third in the group. Full time 2-1.

Russia v Poland boys shared the points on pitch 2 in an exciting 2-2 draw. Ryszard Wisniewski gave Poland the lead from a penalty corner on 11 minutes. Russia’s reply came through Oleg Kotkov after half time when he finished well on 50 minutes. Denis Starienko gave Russia the lead on 60 minutes but Poland replied almost instantly with Mateusz Nowakowski scoring two minutes later. The result put Poland through to the semis in second place.

Czech Rep and Italy girls ended in stalemate with both sides defending well. The result suited the Czechs much better than the Italians as it put them in second place in the group, and qualifying for the semi-finals.

In the boys’ game between Wales and France, Wales bagged an early goal through Tom Wood. Antoine Patoux equalised for France despite them having two green cards at the time. 1-1. France took the lead when Adrien Coffignuez scored from open play. 2-1. The game finished 2-1 after a very competitive ending to the match.

Austria took the lead through Maximilian Scholz on 3 minutes, blasting a low shot from the edge of the D. Switzerland equalised just four minutes later when Noah Gaston Charles-Tijmens scored an almost identical goal to the one Austria scored.

Fabian Unterkircher gave Austria the lead again on 18 minutes through a great finish across the goalkeeper off the post and in.

Switzerland were again hot on Austrian heels and had a great chance when an undercut from Leon Charles-Tijmens was well saved by the Austrian goalkeeper.

It didn’t take long before the game was 2-2 when Switzerland equalised through a penalty flick from Nick Schwehr on 39 minutes.

Some intricate passing from a penalty corner gave Austria a 3-2 lead as Maximilian Trnka knocked the ball home on 45 minutes. Then there was a candidate for goal of the tournament – an excellent volley from Leon Charles-Tijmen made it Austria 3-3 Switzerland on 58 minutes, which is how it finished.

Scotland girls finished top of Pool B by defeating Austria girls 2-0. Hannah McKie scored early doors for Scotland, popping up at the back post to score. 1-0. Scotland looked very good early doors. They were very attacking and looked hungry for goals. They bagged their second when Scotland’s goal machine, Hanna McKie, made it 2-0. Klienhansl gave the ball away, McKie ran through and slotted low into the net.

Austria battled hard to get back in the game and Mairi Fletcher in goal for Scotland and kept the Austrians at bay. In the end it was a good solid performance by Scotland girls to reach the semi-finals.

Aidan McQuade opened the scoring for Scotland striking a penalty corner low into the net. Roman Hyrenko levelled the score for Ukraine from a short corner, firing a low drive, goal then shooting his stick like a rifle in celebration.1-1. Alan Johnston then restored Scotland’s lead with a good finish just inside the D. 2-1.

It was a very tactical game, like a chess match. With half time approaching Johnston bagged his second and Scotland’s third goal to make it 3-1. It was an excellent build up and improvised finish to further Scotland’s advantage.

After half time Ukraine were flying, Dzemukh made it 3-2, scoring a well-worked goal for Ukraine. Then moments later Dzemukh equalised for Ukraine through a brilliant finish high into the net. Scotland 3 Ukraine 3.

James Nairn, after some good play on left, gave Scotland the lead again. 4-3.

Ukraine equalised through Oleksandr Lipskyi, scooping the ball into the goal from the edge of the D. Owen Jenkins-Garcia restored Scotland’s lead immediately with a close range finish after a swift move down the right. 5-4.

 

Girls semi finals:

11.00: France v Czech Rep (Pitch 1)

13.30: Scotland v Belarus (Pitch 1)

 

Boys semi finals:

16.00: Austria v France (Pitch 1)

18.30: Scotland v Poland (Pitch 1)