Grant features in Matildas win, Summanen returns for Finland

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image

There were mixed fortunes for our players on international duty on Friday night.

Charlotte Grant enjoyed a positive outing for Australia as they secured a 1-0 win over Korea Republic in an international friendly in Sydney.

Earning her 32nd cap for the Matildas, the defender started and completed the full match as Lim Seon-joo’s own goal in the second half separated the two sides.

Clare Hunt was a late second half substitute, while Hayley Raso missed the game due to an injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of their international camp.

In the UEFA Nations League, meanwhile, Eveliina Summanen was denied from the penalty spot as Finland were held to a goalless draw by Belarus.

The midfielder returned to Finland’s starting XI, having missed the previous international break due to injury, and Eveliina had the perfect opportunity to give her nation the lead in the early stages of the second period.

Awarded a penalty nine minutes into the second half, Eveliina stepped up to take the spot-kick but unfortunately she failed to convert from 12-yards out and the two sides failed to be separated, leaving Finland second in Group Three of League B.

Eveliina completed the full match while fellow midfielder Olga Ahtinen also put in a full 90-minute shift in Finland.

Joining them in Group Three is Anna Csiki’s Hungary who were defeated 1-0 at home by Serbia. Anna was named in the starting XI and completed 85 minutes as Nina Matejic’s strike in the second half earned the visitors the win.

In League A of the Nations League, defender Luana Buhler was part of the backline for Switzerland as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to France.

Two first half goals from Sandy Baltimore and Selma Bacha was enough to earn their nation the victory as Luana completed 65 minutes in St Gallen, Switzerland, on her 59th cap for her country.

Forward Martha Thomas led the line for Scotland, but it was ultimately a difficult night in Dundee as Germany ran out 4-0 winners in their group phase contest.

Elisa Senss opened the scoring after just two minutes before an own goal from Sophie Howard doubled their lead midway through the first period. Then, in the second half, two goals from Cora Zicai and Lea Schuller wrapped up the win for Germany.

Our number 17 completed just over an hour at Tannadice Park before making way for Kirsty McLean.

Elsewhere in League A, Matilda Vinberg and Amanda Nilden were unused substitutes for Sweden.

Goalkeeper Lize Kop and Olivia Holdt were named amongst the substitutes for their respective countries – the Netherlands and Denmark – but they weren’t called upon in their Nations League encounters.

Among the younger age groups, Ella Morris and Lenna Gunning-Williams featured for England Under-23s on Thursday evening as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain.

A Teyah Goldie own goal and Ornella Vignola gave Spain a two-goal advantage and, despite Isobel Goodwin halving the deficit in the closing stages of the game, it wasn't enough for the Young Lionesses.

Ella started at the back for Emma Coates’ side and put in a 90-minute shift while Lenna Gunning-Williams stepped off the bench in the second half. Goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps was an unused substitute.