Iceland is leading in the duel against Ukraine for a seat in the 2013 European Championship in Women’s Football in Sweden after a 3-2 victory in Sevastopol on Saturday.
Archive photo from Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Iceland was off to a great start, taking the lead with goals from Katrín Ómarsdóttir and Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir. Ukraine managed to strike back and even the score but in the end, Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir guaranteed victory for Iceland, Fréttablaðið reports.
“It was an entertaining game but perhaps a little too open,” comments Iceland’s manager Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson.
“It was a tough game against a good team at an away stadium. It is both good to win and to score three away goals which could prove valuable. We are thrilled about this result but it is far from over,” adds Sigurður.
The second game against Ukraine will be played at Laugardalsvöllur stadium in Reykjavík on Thursday evening. A draw will suffice for Iceland’s ticket to Sweden but Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir of Iceland says their goal is to win.
“We plan to keep our goal clean and that will make us qualify. We have shown that we are strong on our home turf and this is the game we have all been waiting for. Nothing but victory will do,” Sara comments.
Iceland earned a spot in the 2009 European Championship with a 3-0 victory over Ireland on a cold October evening four years ago. The conditions were difficult and the ground was frozen.
“We didn’t let it interrupt us although the other team was thinking about it. We have played on an ice rink before and will do it again if necessary,” Sara concludes.
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ESA
