Scotland Senior Women lose out to Belgium
Scotland Senior Women were defeated 3-1 by Belgium today in Wellington in the first of two internationals taking place between the two sides this weekend.
After a fairly even first twenty minutes, Scptland goalkeeper Amy Gibson was called upon to make two fine saves to keep the scores deadlocked at 0-0.
The Scots took the lead when fine work down the right flank from Ali Bell allowed her to cut the ball back to an unmarked Nikki Kidd who found the back of the net with some composure to make it 1-0 to the visitors in the 20th minute.
However, Belgium were back level eight minutes before half time; some poor defending in the Scottish defence allowed the Belgium forward Charlotte De Vos to skirt round the advancing Gibson, leaving her with the simplest of tasks of passing the ball into the goal to make it 1-1.
Scotland went behind at 2-1 with just two minutes of the first half remaining; a superbly taken penalty corner gave Gibson no chance as Anne-Sophie De Scheemaekere found the goalkeeper’s top right hand corner.
Scotland started the second hald well, winning two early short corners but Kidd on both occasions wasn’t able to test the Belgium goalkeeper. Scotland pushed forward for an equaliser with both Bell and Sam Judge having good attempts at goal.
Scotland continued to press but could not find the net and it was Belgium who rounded off the scoring nine minutes from time when Jill Boon’s fierce strike from just outside the circle was deflected high into the roof of the net.
Following the match, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “The players have worked hard in training and have responded positively against strong opposition throughout the match today. On the whole this was a much improved performance from the tests against Ireland. Belgium are a strong, skilful outfit but Scotland matched them in every department.”
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