Scotland let slip a half-time lead as they lost 2-1 against the Netherlands at Hampden Park, resulting in back-to-back Nations League defeats for the hosts. The Celtic defender Emma Lawton’s first goal for her country put Scotland in front at the interval, but the visitors hit back with second-half efforts from Lineth Beerensteyn and Chasity Grant.
Michael McArdle, Scotland’s interim head coach, made five changes after the opening 1-0 defeat in Austria on Friday and his side soaked up plenty of early pressure. The Netherlands, who drew their opening match 2-2 in Germany, were denied an early lead when Lee Gibson brilliantly kept out Vivianne Miedema’s header.
Scotland retained their lead at the interval thanks to a solid defensive display, but they continued to come under concerted pressure in the second period. Miedema fired wide before the visitors equalised through Beerensteyn’s emphatic 54th-minute finish.
The visitors were rewarded for their pressure in the 64th minute when Miedema’s cut-back from the left edge of the six-yard box was converted by Grant.
Elsewhere in the Group A1, Germany hammered their neighbours Austria 4-1 to move top.
A late brace by Simone Magill inspired Northern Ireland to a dramatic 3-2 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tanya Oxtoby’s team were heading for defeat until their captain levelled in the 89th minute at Inver Park. Magill was not finished there, though, and struck again three minutes later to help Northern Ireland to claim an excellent victory from their second fixture in Group B1.
After a 2-0 defeat in Poland on Friday, Oxtoby’s side were eager to bounce back and made the perfect start after 15 minutes. Lauren Wade produced a dangerous cross from a corner and Brenna McPartlan headed home from close range for her first international goal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina turned the tables after the break with two goals in three minutes. Emina Ekic levelled within a minute of the resumption before Marija Milinkovic made it 2-1 in the 49th minute with a superb long-range strike.
Northern Ireland needed inspiration and Magill provided it a minute from time when she stole in to head the leveller from Ellie Mason’s long ball. The same duo produced a repeat in the second minute of stoppage time when Magill chested down Mason’s pass and stroked home the winner to spark wild celebrations in Larne.
Wales’s Nations League campaign is up and running after Kayleigh Barton’s second-half penalty secured a 1-1 draw against Sweden in Wrexham. Filippa Angeldahl gave Sweden a deserved half-time lead but Wales, 25 places below their opponents in the Fifa rankings, hit back through Charlton’s Barton.
Wales, who lost their opening Group A4 encounter 1-0 against Italy in Monza on Friday, soaked up plenty of pressure at the Racecourse and a disciplined defensive display left the Euro 2022 semi-finalists frustrated.
after newsletter promotion
The hosts fell behind in the 14th minute when Angeldahl converted a rebound after Olivia Clark in Wales’s goal had parried Matilda Vinberg’s cross. Sweden, who won their opening Nations League match 2-1 in Denmark, dominated possession thereafter but were restricted to two shots on target, while Ceri Holland and Carrie Jones both saw shots blocked before the interval.
Sweden continued to dominate in the second half and Stina Blackstenius was foiled by Gemma Evans’s last-ditch block before Holland fired Wales’s first real chance over the crossbar just before the hour.
Blackstenius struck a post when one-on-one with Clark and Sweden were made to pay when Emma Kullberg handled in the box, with Barton striking the resulting 76th-minute penalty into the roof of the net.
Sweden are top of Group A4 with four points, ahead of Denmark, who beat Italy 3-1 away, with both those teams on three points. Wales are bottom on one point.
The Republic of Ireland fell to a first defeat in their Nations League campaign as they were thumped 4-0 by Slovenia in Koper. Three first-half goals including two for Lara Prasnikar, did the damage against Carla Ward’s below-par side, who had started the competition with a 1-0 win against Turkey on Friday.
Source: theguardian.com
