Brave Scots girls beaten by Belarus in Euros semis

Scotland girls v belarusDespite a brave performance, Scotland’s U18 girls lost 3-0 to Belarus in the EuroHockey U18 Youth Championship II semi-finals in Glasgow.

Scotland, in their changed white kit, had to show patience in the early stages of the game. It was a very tactical opening with the majority of the play posing no serious threat to either side.

The game’s first opportunity produced the game’s first goal. A good Volha Skryba interception for Belarus allowed her to run into the Scotland D and won a penalty corner. From the penalty corner

Ina Kaminskaya forced the ball home from a penalty corner to give Belarus the lead. It was an ugly goal to lose, but a welcomed one for Belarus.

Going one behind prompted the Scots to attack. Maddie Cleat was effective; linking with Ella Watt to create an opportunity to equalise, but Cleat’s final effort was well blocked by a Belarussian stick.

Cleat then created a good opportunity for Katie Crawford to run into the D, but the ball escaped her and rolled out of play.

Natalie MacKinnon kept Scotland in the game with a great save. Dziyana Batsiukova intercepted the ball and burst into the Scotland D but MacKinnon was a match for the final shot on goal.

Karina Zhuk brought the best out of MacKinnon next; her powerful shot cracked against the keeper’s pads at high speed.

Scotland piled on the pressure as half time approached but some last ditch defending kept them at bay.

 

Half Time: Scotland Girls 0 Belarus 1

Scotland girls v belarus 1

The second half started disastrously for the Scots with Yuliya Yubko making it 2-0 from penalty flick.

It was a tough blow for the Scots who never had an opportunity to settle in the second half.

The physicality of the Belarussian team was a problem for the Scots. It didn’t stop Scotland battling hard – Martha Lawson took a sore one to the chest, but ran on.

Then came some great skill by Hanna McKie; she knocked the ball through a defender’s legs, but the Belarussian’s covered the danger well. Scotland were finding it difficult to break down the stubborn Belarus defence.

Some great control by Lucy Findlay fashioned an opportunity for Scotland that led to the award of a penalty corner. Katherine Holdgate’s final effort from the routine failed to produce a clear shot at goal.

Belarus then had a period of sustained pressure, which McKie eventually managed to relieve through a quick break forward. It eventually led to a scramble inside the D with Millie Steiger doing her best to try and force the ball over the line. Belarus managed to escape.

For the final 15 minutes of the match Scotland threw everything they had at Belarus. Anna Logan and Bella Fisken were involved in everything Scotland did. But in their efforts to pull a goal back Belarus caught the Scots on the break with a minute to go and made it 3-0.

The Scots bravely battled on until the end but it was Belarus who reached the final, and were rewarded qualification. They play France tomorrow in the EuroHockey U18 Youth Championship II final in Glasgow, and Scotland will play in the3rd/4th place play off.

Full Time: Scotland 0 Belarus 3

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