Scotland stage late comeback to beat India

Women’s FIH Champions Challenge I 7/8 Play-Off Result, Glasgow National Hockey Centre, Scotland

Scotland (Vikki Bunce 44′ 67′, Ailsa Wyllie 65′, Linda Clement 68′) 4-3 India (Neha Goyal 45′, Lilima Minx 51′, Navneet Kaur 64′)

Scotland Senior Women staged a remarkable comeback in today’s Women’s FIH Champions Challenge 7/8 place play-off against India, scoring three goals in the last six minutes of the match to claim a 4-3 win at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

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(Scotland Senior Women team after their final Champions Challenge match against India. Photo Credit: Rodrigo Jaramillo)

Scotland had taken 1-0 lead early in the second half through a wonderful Vikki Bunce solo effort, but goals from Neha Goyal, Lilima Minz and Navneet Kaur looked to have resigned the hosts to finishing last in the competition.

However, the Scots showed grit, fight and determination to produce an extraordinary result from a seemingly irretrievable position, with Ailsa Wyllie, Bunce and captain Linda Clement claiming the goals to send the home support wild with a final day victory.

Following the dramatic finish, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “It’s a nice way to win any game when you come back from 3-1 down, scoring three goals in the last six or seven minutes. But we should never been in that position in the first place. The players know that, they didn’t quite play as well as they have done in previous games.

“But the one thing we always talk about in this team is that we never give up and the team demonstrated great character today. They went harder at India and they got the opportunities that they deserved in the end. A couple of players, under massive pressure, scored great goals.

“Delighted with the players and they’ve worked very hard throughout this tournament. It’s been a really big stepping stone towards the summer. If we hadn’t have won today’s game, we possibly would have left on a bit of a downer, so I’m really happy for everyone that we turned it around at the end.”

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(Scotland’s Nikki Kidd evades the attentions of two India midfielders. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

The teams were deadlocked at 0-0 going into the half-time interval after a fairly uneventful first period. Scotland’s opportunities were restricted by a dogged Indian rear-guard; Aileen Davis’ attempt from a penalty corner was easily saved, Nikki Kidd went close with a drag-flick effort, and Nikki Lloyd sent her reverse stick shot wide of the target.

The stalemate was eventually ended in the 44th minute. A wonderful weaving run from Vikki Bunce ended with the Dundee Wanderers’ midfielder slotting the ball past India goalkeeper Savita Savita to give Scotland the opening goal.

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(Scotland’s Vikki Bunce dances through the Indian defence to give Scotland the opening goal. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

However, India were back on level terms immediately. The visitors were awarded a penalty corner in the 45th minute after defender Susan McGilveray was penalised for an illegal foot, and Neha Goyal was on hand to turn the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

Six minutes later the Scots fell behind in the contest after Scotland goalkeeper Nicki Cochrane saved Poonam Rani’s initial attempt but Lilima Minz followed up to give India a 2-1 lead.

It looked all over for Scotland in the 64th minute after Naveet Kaur put India 3-1 up with a deft finish.

Nevertheless, the home side hit back a minute later, captain Linda Clement engineering space with a determined run and cross to enable striker Ailsa Wyllie to guide the ball past Savita.

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(Ailsa Wyllie pulled Scotland back into the contest. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Scotland’s equaliser came from the penalty spot in the 67th minute when Clement was fouled and Bunce made no mistake to fire a penalty flick high into the top corner.

A penalty shoot-out looked inevitable with two minutes to go, but again the Scots defied the odds to secure the winning goal. Emily Maguire played the ball to Sarah Robertson at the edge of circle and the Edinburgh University forward’s pass was deflected past the outstretched Savita with the faintest of touches by Clement to secure a great Scottish win.

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(Ailsa Wyllie and goalscorer Linda Clement celebrate the captain’s winning goal for Scotland. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Please visit the FIH Women’s Champions Challenge website for full information including match reports, highlights, fixtures, results and pool standings.

Scotland Senior Women: Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Morag McLellan (Clydesdale Western), Alison Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Sarah Robertson (Edinburgh University), Linda Clement (Captain, Grove Menzieshill), Ailsa Wyllie (Grove Menzieshill), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Canterbury), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Canterbury), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading), Aileen Davis (Clifton), Amy Gibson (Old Loughtonians).

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(Scotland Senior Women thank the home support after today’s game. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

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