Watt a finish – Scotland girls snatch late win over Czechs

Ella Watt CzechScotland girls left it late to secure a dramatic 3-2 win over the Czech Rep at the U18 EuroHockey Youth Championship II competition in Glasgow. Ella Watt scored in the last minute to give Scotland the victory over a stubborn Czech side.

Scotland made a good positive start to the game; applying good pressure on the Czechs to the loud support of the home crowd.

The first opportunity came through some fantastic play by Scotland’s Anna Logan but Tereza Koprivova in goal for the Czechs did well to block the final shot. Logan made a superb start to the game and was controlling the play from the middle of the pitch. Hanna McKie also stood out and looked very good on the ball.

Scotland had to be patient; stroking the ball around the pitch in front of a solid Czech defence. Despite having most of the possession it was Czech Rep who scored first.

A good break by Natalie Novakova was halted when Scotland conceded a penalty corner. From the penalty corner, Anna Kolarova smashed the ball low into the net to give Czech Rep the lead.

Scotland continued to have lots of the ball but the Czech defence was solid – there was no way through.

The Scots thought they’d equalised when Martha Lawson scored but it was disallowed for an infringement.

A goal for Scotland would eventually come however and it was Morven Cawthorne who made it 1-1 from the spot after a foul in the D.

Scotland were looking good as the half came to a close but there was one final scare when Barbora Pazitkova went running through on goal, but she didn’t have the legs to outrun the Scotland defence.

 

Half time: Scotland girls 1 Czech Rep girls 1

Scotland Girls U18 Czech 2

Czech Rep get the second half underway and the pattern of the game in the second half immediately mimicked the first. Scotland threatened not long after the restart through good play by Maddie Cleat; winning a penalty corner. It ended in Scotland taking the lead and it was Cleat herself who scored, deflecting the ball into the top corner. 2-1.

Scotland couldn’t hold the lead for long as Czech Rep equalised straight away. Kolarova ran through the Scotland defence easily and smashed the ball low into the net for her second goal of the match. 2-2

The well-organised Czech defence continued to frustrate the Scots. Some excellent running by Ella Watt and McKie won a penalty corner, but the Scots couldn’t make it count. Then on another penetration into the Czech D Katherine Holdgate was easily dealt with by the defence.

The Czechs nearly took the lead themselves through a tremendous solo run by Novakova, but she was thwarted at the last moment by good Scotland defending.

Scotland came forward still; Katie Crawford went on an attacking run up the middle of the pitch but McKie couldn’t get on the end of her pass. McKie then hit the post when it looked as if a goal was a certainty. It seemed it was going to be one of those days for the Scots.

Then in the last minute of the game, Ella Watt popped up in the right place at the right time and tapped the ball over the line from close range to make it 3-2.

The last minute goal prompted scenes of delirium on the pitch and it sets up the Scots well to play their next game on Tuesday against Italy.

 

Full Time: Scotland girls 3 Czech Rep girls 2

Scotland Girls U18 team Czech

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