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Iceland
Ferns' Third Place Hopes Dashed In Shoot-Out
by Jeremy Ruane
The Football Ferns' hopes of concluding their inaugural Algarve Cup campaign in third place were dashed in a penalty shoot-out at the Via Real Santo Antonio on March 9, as Iceland prevailed 6-5 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw in the first-ever clash between the countries at any level in world football.
Andrea Hauksdottir's 27th minute goal separated the sides at the break, Sarah Gregorius having gone closest to scoring for the Football Ferns during the first half, at the conclusion of which Meikayla Moore was withdrawn from the fray, with Rebekah Stott returning to the back-line for the second spell.
Further substitutions were made by Tony Readings on the hour, with Rosie White and Jasmine Pereira entering the fray as the Football Ferns sought an equaliser. And by the time Anna Green was introduced to the action ten minutes later, they had it - and it was a wee bit special.
Having been credited with the goal originally given to Annalie Longo in Monday's win over Portugal, Amber Hearn came into this match with 49 international goals to her name.
Twenty minutes from time, she bagged her fiftieth - a record haul for her country, and the 280th goal of her career all told - with a quality finish across Guobjorg Gunnarsdottir into the far corner to level the scores.
The Football Ferns had strong penalty claims waved away when Betsy Hassett went down hard in the area, while a string of opportunities, both one-on-ones and set-pieces, went begging in the remaining minutes before the full-time whistle meant a penalty shoot-out would be necessary to decide the third place-getters.
Hearn, White, Stott, Ria Percival and Hassett all hit the target for the Football Ferns, but Iceland matched them stride for stride, meaning that after the mandatory five spot-kicks apiece, the shoot-out would be a sudden death affair.
Gunnarsdottir kept out Green's effort, handing the initiative to Iceland, for whom second half substitute Sandra Maria Jessen stepped up to beat Erin Nayler and clinch Iceland's second third-placed finish in three years at the Algarve Cup, 6-5 on penalties following this 1-1 draw.
The outcome was a disappointing one for the Football Ferns, who, with tournament winners Canada, conceded the least amount of goals - two - in the four games played. They were the better side in their two drawn games, but it was that old chestnut - turning that dominance into goals - which was once more their Achilles heel.
The Football Ferns will next be in action during the April international window, commencing on April 4, after which coach Tony Readings will head home
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via the famous Maracana Stadium, where the draw for the Olympic Women's Football Tournament is taking place on April 14.
Iceland: G. Gunnarsdottir; Vioardottir, H. Hauksdottir, S. Gunnarsdottir, Kristjansdottir; A. Hauksdottir, Viggosdottir, Jensen, Porvaldsdottir; Jonsdottir, Frioriksdottir
Football Ferns: Nayler; Bowen (Green, 71), Moore (Stott, 46), Erceg, Percival; Hassett, Duncan, Yallop (White, 61); Longo, Hearn, Gregorius (Pereira, 61)
In other Algarve Cup action, two goals in six second half minutes from Shelina Zadorsky and Janine Beckie earned Canada a 2-1 victory over Brazil in a keenly contested final which saw Cristiane strike late on to set up a thrilling finale to a tournament which saw Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan win the Algarve Cup MVP award.
Belgium made no race of it against Russia, confirming fifth place with a 5-0 trouncing led by Janice Cayman's two-goal haul. And it was a similar story in the seventh place play-off, where two goals in the first eleven minutes from Sanne Troelsgaard inspired Denmark to a 3-1 win over host nation Portugal.
Austria are the new holders of the Cyprus Cup after Katharina Schiechtl's last-minute winner clinched a 2-1 victory over Poland in the final. Italy scored twice in the last two minutes to down Czech Republic 3-1 in the third place play-off.
Hungary grabbed a late winner as they edged Wales 2-1 to claim fifth place, while early goals were the order of the day for Eire as they overcame Finland 2-0 in the seventh place play-off.
The final round of the Asian Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Osaka saw Australia finish on top of the standings as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with second-placed China, whose sixteenth minute goal from Ma Xiaoxu was matched by Emily Van Egmond's strike five minutes from time.
Japan finished third after downing DPR Korea 1-0, while Korea Republic edged ahead of their northern rivals on goal difference thanks to their 4-0 rout of winless Vietnam.
Sweden earned the point they needed from their final European Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament tussle with Holland to become the last of the twelve qualifiers for Rio 2016.
They came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Dutch, Olivia Schough's goal booking their passage on a night Switzerland came from behind to down Norway 2-1, Rachel Kiwic's stoppage time strike clinching a first win of the tournament for the Swiss.
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