Pinatar Cup Final 2024
Scotland 1 – 1 Finland
Finland win 5-4 on penalties
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Pinatar Arena, Spain

Scorers
Scotland 1 (Thomas 75’)
Finland 1 (Sevenius 21’)

Team news

Pedro Martinez Losa made three changes to the starting line-up from the team that faced Philippines in the semi-final. Hayley Lauder, Brogan Hay and Rachel Corsie were replaced by Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Hanson and Jenna Clark.

As it happened…

Finland got proceedings underway in the Spanish sun and Scotland were the first to attack. With the wind at their back, captain Claire Emslie and Martha Thomas looked to have an immediate impact, but the Finnish back line were quick to extinguish the early threat.

Thomas had another good opportunity on 7 minutes when a space opened up just outside the penalty box. The striker pulled the trigger but the shot was a little too high to trouble Korpela in the Finnish goal.

The pace was frenetic in the first quarter as was Scotland’s pursuit of the opening goal. However, it was Finland who would break the deadlock against the run of play. Sevenius put them ahead on 21 minutes with a header at the back-post.

It was Scotland that continued to dominate with Cuthbert looking to level the score from 18-yards around the half-hour mark, but the effort was dragged wide of the target. 6 minutes later the midfielder looked menacing again with a powerful strike across the face of goal which was palmed away by the Finnish shot-stopper.

Despite consistent pressure, Scotland were unable to level the score as Finland went into the break with the goal advantage.

Sophie Howard’s physical presence caused problems in the Finland box early in the second-half as Docherty delivered the ball into a dangerous area, but Clark was unable to capitalise for Scotland.

The Finland goal-keeper kept their lead intact after denying Thomas who lashed a shot towards goal on 56 minutes. The strike looked to be heading into the top-right corner but Korpela was at full stretch to deny the striker.

Pedro Martinez Losa made a double substitution on 61 minutes, Fiona Brown replaced Kirsty Hanson and Sam Kerr made way for Rachel Corsie.

The game continued to be fairly evenly matched with Scotland enjoying the majority of possession. Finland had two good chances in quick succession around 70 minutes as substitute Sallstrom’s effort beat McIver but pinged off the crossbar.

Hayley Lauder and Jamie-Lee Napier entered the fray on 75 minutes as Cornet and Emslie departed.  After the pair entered the field, Cuthbert fired a free-kick at the Finnish keeper who couldn’t contain it. Thomas was there to level the score from close-range.

Fiona Brown continued to test the Finnish defence, with testing runs down the left. It ended 1-1 at full time; the 2024 Pinatar Cup would be decided with a penalty shootout.

Finland tucked away the opener, before Rachel Corsie duly fired home to keep level the shootout for Scotland. Finland made it 2-1, before Lisa Evans tucked the ball away for 2-2. Ahtinen fired into the top corner for Finland to make it 3/3, before Martha Thomas fired into the corner to keep things level.

Scotland took the advantage as Sandy MacIver produced a terrific save to deny Kollanen – up stepped Fiona Brown to smash home to keep the advantage. MacIver came close to denying Sällström, before Erin Cuthbert was denied by a fine save from the Finnish keeper, taking things to sudden death.

Franssi fired home the sixth in the shootout, before Korpela denied Nicola Docherty and sealed the 2024 Pinatar Cup for Finland. 

Teams

Scotland: MacIver, Docherty, Clark, Howard, Evans, Cuthbert, Kerr (Corsie 61’), Cornet (Lauder 75’), Hanson (Brown 61’), Emslie © (Napier 75’), Thomas

Unused subs: Gibson, Fife, Rodgers, Hay, Eddie, Smith, Davidson, Ross

Finland: Korpela, Nystrom, Oling, Koivisto, Tynnila, Ahtinen, Kosola, Kuikka, Summanen, Sevenius, Rantala