LAST-MINUTE POLE SCORER
Scotland’s women on top of world after coming back from dead in vital qualifier
SHELLEY KERR admitted she was lost for words after Scotland bagged three goals in the last 12 minutes to keep their World Cup qualifying hopes alive.
Strikes from Kim Little, sub Jane Ross and Lisa Evans dumped a Polish side who looked to be coasting after a Dzesika Jaszek effort and Sophie Howard own goal.
The result leaves the Scots three points behind leaders Switzerland in Group Two, with Kerr’s side facing the Swiss at home in their next game in August.
And the Dark Blue head coach said: “For once in my life I don’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe we were 2-0 down.
“I’ll take a bit of time to reflect on this one but overall we deserved to win the game.
“That might seem crazy when we were losing 2-0 going into the last 12 minutes but there was a lot of hard work done before that – and the substitutes changed the game when it opened up.
“I don’t use the word proud often but I’m really proud of the players for their sheer desire.
“That result puts us in a brilliant position for the final two games. I would have bitten your hand off to be in this position going into the home game against Switzerland.”
After a confident start, Scotland gifted Poland a goal in just six minutes.
An unnecessary exchange of passes between Jen Beattie and Lee Alexander resulted in the keeper’s weak kick being seized on by Jaskek. And the 22-yearold Pole fired the ball over Alexander into the far corner.
Despite the setback most of the attacking in the first half was by the visitors.
Erin Cuthbert, playing up top instead of Ross, came in for some rough treatment.
The Scots were far more incisive in the second half and Little came close to equalising but her shot was cleared in front of the line by a Polish defender.
Just as it seemed Kerr’s side were getting some purchase in the game, they fell further behind – and again it was a soft goal.
Polish sub Agata Tarczynska sent a harmless lob into the box but right-back Howard’s sliced clearance ended in her own net.
It looked all over for Scotland but they pulled one back 12 minutes from time. Little’s free kick eluded everybody and bounced into the Poland net.
Two minutes later Kerr’s side were level. Ross had come on earlier and she got on the end of a Caroline Weir pass before firing home.
Alexander then made a superb save from Polish sub Julia Matuschewski.
Cuthbert and Little both hit the woodwork in a frantic finale but the visitors’ pressure finally paid off in 90 minutes.
Evans collected a pass from Weir, beat her defender and then cut in from the left before firing a low shot into the far corner.
I don’t use the word proud often but I’m really proud of the players SHELLEY KERR