Day 4 roundup EuroHockey Championship II, Women, Glasgow

Match 9: Italy 10-1 Turkey

Italy was on top goal scoring form when they scored ten against Turkey in Women’s EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow.

In poor weather conditions, Italy dominated from the start, winning the first attacking penalty corner of the match. The ball comes out to the top of the circle, the strike comes strong but Turkey’s Keeper Elif Küpeli is there for the save. Turkey gets the break and works the ball back up the middle.

In their second attacking corner of the match, Italy comes out strong to the top of the circle. It’s laid off to the right to come crashing towards the post where Italy’s Number 27 Lara Oviedo is positioned for the deflection. It’s 1-0.

As the second quarter gets underway, Turkey makes a mistake in the right-hand corner and they’re caught as Italy make use of the space. The ball is worked around the top of the circle. Turkey’s Keeper is there for the save but Italy makes use of the rebound. Number 25 Giuliana Ruggieri makes it 2 for Italy.

Turkey aims to narrow the gap with a great run from Number 10 Perihan Küçükkoç, who dribbles the ball into the circle and earns Turkey their first attacking corner of the match. The ball comes out strong to the top of the circle. Turkey’s first strike rebounds off of an Italian stick and is deflected into the goal. It’s 2-1. Turkey’s Number 11 and Captain Leyla Öztürk claims the goal.

Another attacking corner is awarded to Turkey but the sudden downpour of rain forces a retake and, soon after, time is stopped due to the weather conditions.

With time restarted, Italy is soon awarded another attacking penalty corner. Turkey’s Keeper Elif Küpeli saves in spectacular fashion; sending the ball high above the crossbar and wowing the spectators.

Undeterred, Italy push again in their 5th attacking penalty corner. The ball comes out to Number 2 Celina Traverso, who goes right to Captain Chiara Tiddi. Tiddi sends the ball to waiting Oviedo, who finds the space past the post and score her second of the match. It’s 3-1 as the klaxon sounds for half-time.

Italy keeps up the pressure in the 3rd quarter. Italy’s Lara Oviedo sends the ball towards goal. Turkey’s defence gets the touch on the ball but it isn’t strong enough to clear; Giuliana Ruggieri finds the space and cracks the ball into the goal for the second time of the match. It’s 4-1.

In another attacking penalty corner, Italy sends the ball out strong to Number 20 Jasbeer Singh. She sends it to Number 28 Ivanna Pessina, who makes it 5-1.

Continuing to dominate, Italy work hard up the left to get the ball to Emilia Munitis, who touches it round Elif Küpeli to make it 6 for Italy at the end of the quarter.

To open the final quarter, Italy’s Number 2 Celina Traverso finds 23 Maryna Vynohradova to make it 7-1.

As Turkey’s heads go down, they concede another corner. Traverso dummies to leave the ball prime for Captain Chiara Tiddi, who sweeps the ball past the Keeper to make it 8-1. Tiddi quickly strikes again to make it 9-1.

Down to 10 players following a yellow for Italy’s Jasbeer Singh, Italy are not deterred; some good work from Number 31 Sofia Laurito at the goal mouth makes it 10-1, where it remains until the final whistle.

Match 10: Wales 2-2 Poland

Despite a spirited Wales performance Poland held out for a 2-2 draw to claim a place in the Women’s EuroHockey Championship II semi-finals in Glasgow.

Poland enjoyed the better pressure in the match in the early stages and created the game’s first opportunity; a scrum of players charged the Welsh goal and tried to force the ball over the line, but eventually, the danger was cleared.

As the opening quarter reached a conclusion both sides won a series of penalty corners, but no clear opportunities would present themselves from the routines. The scoreline changed, however, when a quick Polish counter-attack found Magdalena Zagajska in the D who rifled a low shot against the backboard to give Poland a 1-0 lead.

The heavens opened in the second quarter and there was a break in play to let the pitch drain. When the game restarted Wales found the net when Sarah Jones struck the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

Poland retook the lead early in the third quarter when Wiktoria Blaszyk scored to make it 2-1. It was the perfect start to the half for the Poles.

Wales then enjoyed good pressure in the third quarter as they went hunting for another equaliser but the Poles held on until the break.

The final quarter saw Wales pile on the pressure and win a series of penalty corners. Leah Wilkinson had a good penalty corner shot well saved low by the goalkeeper before the ball was scrambled clear.

The deserved Wales equaliser eventually came in the last minute of the match; a rebound found its way to Wilkinson and from the top of the D she smashed it low into the bottom right corner to make it 2-2.

After the goal, there was no time for Wales to find a winner and Poland held on for the point and earned their place in the semi-finals.

Match 11: Ukraine 4-3 Czech Republic

It’s end to end hockey in the first quarter, with both teams putting in strong challenges. Two Ukraine attacking penalty corners are awarded in quick succession but the Czech defence stays strong.

Ukraine keeps up the pressure. A risky ball across their own circle from Czechs leads to another attacking corner for the Ukrainians. It’s messy from the Czechs; Ukraine’s Number 8 Kateryna Shokalenko finds the space and sends the ball high into the roof of the net. It’s 1-0.

The Czechs attempt to equalise quickly but their attempts are thwarted by Ukraine’s Keeper Tetiana Stepankchenko. Not for long, however, as a mistake from the Ukrainians on the goal line sees a penalty flick awarded to the Czechs. Number 13 Adela Lehovcova steps up; cooly making it 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.

It stays on an equal footing into the second quarter; each player matching her opposition pace for pace. Ukrainian pressure in the circle forces the Czech Keeper Barbora Cechakova out of her goal. Ukraine’s Number 20 Viktoriia Stetsenko takes advantage of the space and sends the ball into the roof of the net. It’s 2-1.

The Czechs try to take advantage of an attacking penalty corner; Number 18 Anna Vorlova takes the strike but it’s wide. Undeterred, the Czechs keep up the pressure to find the equaliser but despite their efforts, the second quarter ends 2-1.

The momentum stays with the Czechs at the beginning of the 3rd quarter but attempts from Lehovcova, Mejzlikova and Hlavata don’t even the scoreline.

In a turn of the tide, Ukraine is awarded an attacking penalty corner. The ball comes strong to the top of the circle, it’s sent right to waiting Vikitoriia Stetsenko, who slots neatly behind the Keeper. It’s Ukraine 3, Czech Republic 1 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the opening minutes of the final quarter, Czech Republic is awarded an attacking corner. A mishit at the top of the circle forces the Czechs to scramble for possession, driving the Ukrainians to make a mistake. It’s another penalty corner but Tetiana Stepankchenko is there for the save but another penalty corner is awarded. Czech Republic’s Number 18 Anna Vorlova scrambles for the shot and slots it past the Keeper. It’s 3-2!

Two yellow cards in quick succession to Ukraine’s Number 11 Yuliia Schevchenko and Number 7 Oksana Ponomarenko take Ukraine down to 9, but the Czechs can’t take advantage.

As the pressure rises, the Czech Republic drive for the equaliser. An attacking penalty corner is awarded to the Czechs: the ball comes out cleanly, it’s slipped right to waiting Number 17 Veronika Decsyova, who takes the shot. It’s 3-3 in the final minutes of the game!

But the Ukrainians won’t take no for an answer! Ukraine’s Number 22 Olha Honcharenko makes a spectacular dive to connect with the cross from the right, clearing the Keeper; the ball rockets high into the goal as the klaxon sounds!

In a nail-biting finish, it’s Ukraine 4, the Czech Republic 3.

Match 12: Scotland 3-0 Austria

Scotland finished top of Pool B in Women’s EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow with three wins from three after beating Austria 3-0. Goals from Jen Eadie; Sarah Jamieson; and Kate Holmes saw them bag the win and will play for promotion in a winner-take-all semi-final against Poland.

Scotland was pressing right from the start and taking the game to Austria in the early stages. The Tartan Hearts took the lead through a powerful solo run and finish by Jen Eadie; her finish was precise as she fizzed the ball low into the net by the left post from a tight angle.

There was nearly a second goal for Scotland when Fiona Semple arrived at the far post with just the keeper to beat, but a good save denied the goal.

It wouldn’t take Scotland too long to get their second goal. It came through a powerful low shot by Sarah Jamieson that crashed against the backboard to make it 2-0.

At the end of the opening quarter, Charlotte Watson came close as she weaved her way into the D through a number of players but was snuffed out before getting her shot away.

Kate Holmes added her name to the score sheet from the penalty spot. Holmes launched the ball low to the bottom right corner to put Scotland 3-0 ahead before half time.

Early in the second half, Scotland looked like grabbing another goal when a lovely penalty corner routine found Jamieson moving off the injector spot to smash goalward but the goalkeeper saved and the ball popped up in the air.

The Scots controlled the third quarter but Austria did well to keep them out. The final quarter saw Scotland come close through a number of penalty corner routines. First Robyn Collins was denied when her drag flick was saved low to the right post.

Emily Dark blasted a shot from the top of the D right but a superb diving save denied her the goal.

Eadie very nearly grabbed her second goal when she arrived late in the D to shoot towards the bottom left corner but another good save batted the ball clear.

Scotland plays Poland for promotion, and a place in the final, on Friday evening at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Final pool ranking: 

Pool A

Pool B

 Tomorrow is a rest day in Glasgow 

Matches on 9th August: 

All games are being live-streamed on www.eurohockeytv.org 

Photographs are on our FaceBook page: Duncan Gray (c)