Scotland held to a draw by Italy

Scotland men v Italy 2016 2 2Scotland and Italy played out a competitive 3-3 draw in the second of three games between the two as Scotland prepare for World League 1, held in Glasgow, in September.

The game followed a spectacular 5-0 win for Scotland on Thursday evening, but the hosts were met by a very different Italian side in this second encounter.

Before the games Nicky Parkes was presented with 50th cap for Scotland and his side looked positive from the push-back.

Italy were defending well early doors as Scotland zipped the ball around the D. The Scots were using flanks but found no way through the Italian rear-guard. That was until Scotland’s Lee Morton opened the scoring after some excellent build-up play down the left. The ball was cut in for Morton who finished well to make it 1-0.

Instantly after his first, Morton bagged his, and Scotland’s, second. A quick break from the restart found Morton with enough time and space to blast the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

Italy began to creep into the game. First, Alan Forsyth stopped one on the line from a penalty corner. Then the Italians pulled one back through Felipe Ponce. Not long later and Italy levelled the score. Ganzalo Urzone tapped the ball home to make it 2-2 after a defensive lapse allowed the Italians in.

Scotland men v Italy 2016 2

Early in the second half and a couple of great saves from Kenny Bain penalty corners denied Scotland the lead again. Instead it was the Italians who took the lead when Julien Dallons blasted home from a pen corner.

Scotland continued to have most of the ball but Italy managed to keep them at bay. A chance for Fraser Campbell saw him zip the ball over the bar.

Then with the clock ticking down Italy nearly put the game to bed when a quick break allowed Santiago Castano the chance to shoot at goal but his shot fizzed across the goal and just wide.

Kenny Bain made it 3-3 with ten mins to play. A quick move down the right saw the ball blasted into the D for Bain to pounce ahead of the defence to deflect the ball into the net.

The game ended a draw and the two will meet for the final time tomorrow at 13.30am at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow.

FT 3-3

 

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