Wednesday, 26 Sep 2007

Scotland were beaten 1-0 tonight in Finland at Veritus Stadium, Turku in the first leg of a double header.

Scotland played well in the first half and had several chances, most notably by Shelley Kerr and Pauline Hamill. Finland were very strong up front, however despite numerous chances for Finland the goalkeeper Gemma Fay produced a string of saves.

Finland took the lead with a scrappy goal following a goalmouth scramble. Scotland Coach Anna Signeul was disappointed with the result for Scotland and commented on the match:

‘We want to look forward after this match, we are disappointed to get beaten tonight however we are determined to win against Finland on Saturday.’

 

Comment fromTim Glogan :-

Would just like to say that, I was at this game, and the Finnish goal was not as you report 'a scrappy goal following a goalmouth scramble'. It was a very good glancing header by Sanna Valkonen, direct from a corner.

 

Scotland play their second match on Saturday 29 September at the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, kick-off 5pm (3pm UK time).

Scotland have two UEFA Cup qualification matches ahead of them when they play away to Slovakia on Saturday 27 October and then home to Denmark on Wednesday 31 October at McDiarmid Park.

Currently, Scotland sit in joint fourth place in Group 5 with Portugal, behind leaders Slovakia, Ukraine and Denmark.

SCOTLAND SQUAD

Gemma Fay Hibernian LFC
Rhonda Jones Florida Atlantic University
Stacey Cook Hibernian LFC
Ifeoma Dieke Qbik
Michelle Kerr Hibernian LFC
Joanne Love Celtic LFC
Megan Sneddon Glasgow City LFC
Julie Fleeting Arsenal LFC
Pauline Hamill Hibernian LFC
Hollie Thomson Hamilton Academical LFC
Leanne Ross Glasgow City LFC

SUBSTITUTIONS

Amanda Burns Hibernian LFC
Kirsty McBride Hibernian LFC
Suzanne Grant Hibernian LFC

On the night, Scotland were second best in most departments. The local Turku paper described them as a little too 'pehmea' (soft). They were rarely able to keep possession long enough to venture too far towards the
opposition goal.

The lack of physical presence compared with the Finns was a big factor. Julie Fleeting and Ifeome Dieke did however encourage words of praise from the locals, and the crowd of 4,477 was the highest ever in Finland for a women's international. It was boosted by most of the local girl's teams coming in on group tickets.