LOAD OF CON MERCHANTS
Ifeoma blasts Koreans for duping ref
SCOTLAND defender Ifeoma Dieke reckons South Korea were too cute for ref Barbara Poxhofer as a late spot-kick sealed a tough defeat.
Cho So Hyun beat Shannon Lynn from 12 yards left to add to Ji So-yun’s opener in Nicosia which left the battling Scots’s hopes of reaching the Cyprus Cup Final hanging by a thread.
Anna Signeul’s side have three points after two games in Group B. South Korea have four – as do Austria, who the Scots play on Monday.
But Dieke believes they were still in with a chance until that controversial award 16 minutes from time when Austrian Poxhofer judged sub Kirsty Smith had fouled Jung Seol-bin in the box and booked the Hibs defender.
The 36-year-old said: “I didn’t think it was a penalty. They were going to ground very easily and were clever about that and I felt the referee bought it.”
South Korea’s first goal after 48 minutes was a well struck 20-yard shot from Chelsea star So-yun – and Dieke wasn’t happy with that one either.
She said: “It was a good strike but we gave it away and we know they can shoot from distance. We had the numbers about to deal with it and we didn’t.”
Neither side made many clear-cut chances in an even first half and the early goal after the interval sparked the game into life.
Scotland spurned good chances to get back in to it with Fiona Brown and Glasgow City captain Leanne Ross both going through but failing to test.
Brown and Chelsea teenager Erin Cuthbert were given the nod up front after match-winning displays as subs against New Zealand on Wednesday.
It meant Manchester City striker Jane Ross had to wait until the 62nd minute to claim her 100th cap, replacing 18-year-old Cuthbert up front.
Dieke, who played with her at Swedish side Vittsjo, said: “She’s now got 100 caps and 48 goals – nearly one every two games. It’s a proud moment for her and her family and she’s still got a lot more to come.”
Signeul said: “It’s fantastic that Jane has reached 100 caps but a pity we didn’t win.”