Promotion in doubt in Lignano
13 January 2012
EUROPEAN INDOOR NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS 11 - LIGNANO
(ITALY) - FRIDAY 13TH - SUNDAY 15TH JANUARY
2012
SCOTLAND 0 ITALY 0
SCOTLAND 3 UKRAINE 4
Scotland`s chances of making the promotion pool of the European Indoor Nations Championships 11 in Lignano are hanging on a very shaky peg, Billy McPherson`s charges drew 0-0 with Italy in the opening fixture and then lost 4-2 to Ukraine in the second match of the day. The scenario now is that the Scots must beat Sweden in today`s final pool encounter, hope that the result of Italy`s game with Ukraine falls favourably, leaving goal difference to be the deciding factor.
The Scots opened brightly against Ukraine and went ahead in five minutes through an open play goal from Glynhill Kelburne striker Gareth Hall. The Eastern Europeans retaliated, within two minutes they were back on level terms through a well-taken penalty corner, and then took a 2-1 lead just before the interval.
Six minutes into the second half it was 2-2, the build-up came from Andrew Thornton and Chris Wilson, the ball was passed on to Gavin Byers and his cross was slammed home by Ross McPherson. Ukraine`s lethal set piece then came into play, two fierce drag flicks flew past Andrew Ross into the roof of the net to leave the Scots trailing 4-2 as the minutes ticked away.
The Scotland coach then took a gamble, keeper Ross was taken off and replaced by Thornton as an additional outfield player. In dramatic final few minutes, Allan Law had a penalty corner effort saved by the Ukraine goalkeeper, then at second set piece Law switched to McPherson to score his second of the game. Despite desperate last minute pressure by the Scots, Ukraine held out to win 4-3.
A goalless draw is almost unique in the annals of international indoor hockey, traditionally a high scoring sport, but that is exactly what Scotland and Italy served up in the opening encounter. At one end the Scots created almost no clear-cut chances while at the other Grove Menzieshill keeper Andrew Ross, on his European debut, produced a series of outstanding saves to keep a clean sheet throughout.
The first half was more like a game of chess than indoor hockey with the Scots barely troubling the Italian goalkeeper. The pattern of the match after the interval was almost carbon copy of the first, although the Scots had a couple of early penalty corners which came to nothing and half chances fell to Gareth Hall and Gary Cameron from open play. Scotland had most of the possession but the Italians were dangerous in the break and the deadlock remained due to the efforts of Ross between the posts.
Fortunately the other game in Scotland`s pool also ended in a draw, but in contrast Sweden and Ukraine shared six goals apiece. Poland appear to the frontrunners in the other group with back to back wins over Slovakia and Denmark, the latter will now compete with Belarus for the other promotion pool place.
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