INTERNATIONAL: Spain on top but Scotland celebrate play-off spot

Spirited Scotland survived Spain's sustained attacking pressure to gain the golden result required to secure a play-off test against England.
Scotland's Kirsty Hanson and her team-mates can look forward to a third-place play-off against England. Pic by PressEye Ltd.Scotland's Kirsty Hanson and her team-mates can look forward to a third-place play-off against England. Pic by PressEye Ltd.
Scotland's Kirsty Hanson and her team-mates can look forward to a third-place play-off against England. Pic by PressEye Ltd.

Spain marched into the semi-finals of the tournament thanks to a 1-0 win.

However, defeat served up plenty of positives for Scotland as Germany’s greater margin of victory over Northern Ireland left the hosts ruled out of the coveted World Cup play-off position at the end of the European Championship group stages.

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Spain proved commanding in possession at Mourneview Park and created four significant openings inside the opening 10 minutes as an early pattern of the evening’s play.

Lucia Garcia fired wide and then steered her glancing header over the crossbar - with Damaris Egurrola blasting high from a promising position and Rebecca Flaherty pushing over Paula Fernandez’ effort.

Spain captain Maite Oroz had a shot tipped on to the bar by the alert Flaherty and another fine stop left Patricia Guijarro frustrated.

Scotland launched a rare break late in the half as Samantha Kerr intercepted the ball outside her own penalty area and attacked at pace along the right before Spain regrouped to smother the threat.

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The second half forced Flaherty into a stop to deny Guijarro as Spain continued to probe and prod the determined Scotland backline.

The reward arrived for Spain on 55 minutes as Guijarro worked space in the box and her low angled drive was met by an out-stretched glove that could not prevent it from nestling inside the far post.

SPAIN: Rodriguez, Batlle, Sierra, Egurrola, Perez (Azcona, 71), Guijarro (Costa, 89), Fernandez, Oroz (Anitua, 86), Menayo, Rodriguez, Garcia.

SCOTLAND: Flaherty, Michie, Dalgliesh, Paterson, Whyte, Kerr, Gallacher (Hay, 89), Hanson (Brown, 90), Adams, Notley (McGregor 68), Cornet.

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