Scotland reach the European semi-finals

THE Scotland men’s and women’s hockey teams have reached the semifinals of the Euro Junior Hockey Championships.

Cammy Golden (Grove Menzieshill) netted twice as Scotland’s men’s team lost 3-2 against Italy in their vital last Pool B match in Plzen Litice, Czech Republic.

Italy scored two early goals and added a third before half-time which proved decisive.

That victory was sufficient for Italy to draw level with Scotland on six points but Scotland’s better goal difference, seven against five, saw them retain second place.

Scotland now face Ireland in a semi-final later today.

Russia, who the Scots had beaten 5-2 in their second match, topped the pool with a remarkable 9-1 win over Portugal.

They also finished on six points and the same goal difference as Scotland but with two more goals scored.

Ireland topped Pool A with three victories. They scored 18 goals with only two against in their three matches.

Turkey were clear in second with Belarus and the Czech Republic in the bottom two places.

Russia meet Turkey in the other semi today.

The third-place match and the final are tomorrow.

A goal by Lexi Sabatelli (Clydesdale Western) in the eighth minute of their third Pool B match against Austria in the women’s Euros in Alanya, Turkey, was sufficient for Scotland’s women to complete their pool on seven points, the same as Wales.

Scotland did have the better of the exchanges but could not find that extra goal or two which might have made a difference with the Wales match to follow.

Wales, who beat the Czech Republic 3-0, topped the pool having scored four goals to Scotland’s three, neither having conceded a goal.

Scotland will face Ukraine, who topped Pool A with three victories, in their semi later today.

Italy, surprise 4-1 winners over Turkey in their last Pool A match, will face Wales.

The final and third-place matches take place tomorrow.