Iceland Pinatar Cup

Brynjarsdóttir, Arnold, Asseyi & Cissoko taste success on international duty

Dagný Brynjarsdóttir helped Iceland to a 5-0 victory over the Philippines on Tuesday evening as they lifted the Pinatar Cup for the first time. 

The Hammers skipper played 63 minutes of the contest in Murcia, Spain - and by that point, the win already seemed pretty assured.

Armanda Andradóttir scored either side of half-time, before goals from Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir, Hlín Eiríksdóttir and Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir sealed the rout late on. 

Staying with the Pinatar Cup, Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw with Wales in their final outing of the competition. Leicester City defender Sophie Howard had given them an early lead, but they were pegged back just before half-time by Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland. 

Kirsty Smith was introduced at half-time but couldn’t help her side find the breakthrough – whilst Lisa Evans was an unused substitute. 

Mackenzie Arnold continued with the fine form that she has shown throughout the February break by starting between the post for the third successive match for Australia in the Cup of Nations. 

The Matildas took on Jamaica at the Newcasle International Sports Centre in their final match of the competition, having already beaten the Czech Republic and Spain in their first two matches. 

The hosts, buoyed by the win against Spain last time out started strong against The Reggae Girlz, who were without their record goalscorer and current WSL top scorer Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.

Brisbane Roar midfielder Katrina-Lee Gorry opened the scoring on 28 minutes, before Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord added further goals in the second half as Australia were crowned champions of the competition for the second time. 

Mackenzie Arnold

Mel Filis came off the bench to help England U23s to a 4-1 victory over Belgium in their final match of the February international break. 

The 20-year-old midfielder was introduced in the 71st minute of the win over the Red Devils at Prenton Park, home of Liverpool Women on Monday 20 February. 

A 1300 strong crowd came out to support the Young Lionesses in Birkenhead, and they were treated to a clinical performance from Mo Marley’s side. 

It would be Liverpool midfielder Missy-Bo Kearns that would open the scoring in the 16th minute, slotting the ball beyond ‘keeper Lisa Lichtfus. 

Belgium began to play their way back into the game and started to show a threat going forward, which resulted in them drawing level in the 27th minute when Shari Van Belle picked out Marie Minnaert to fire past Kayle Rendell.

The second half belonged to England though, and less than ten minutes after the re-start they had restored their advantage, with Aggie Beever-Jones finding Angela Addison who made no mistake. 

Anna Patten made it three just after the hour mark, before Kiera Skeels sealed the win on a memorable night in Merseyside. 

Anouk Denton was an unused substitute in the win. 

Vivi Asseyi France

Iceland were not the only team to clinch silverware during the international break, with France clinching their third successive Tournoi de France championship after a 0-0 draw with Norway in Angers. 

Viviane Asseyi was an unused substitute, whilst Hawa Cissoko was not included in the matchday squad. 

Denmark were also in action in the competition, as Emma Snerle helped De rød-hvide turn the tide against Uruguay after coming off the bench. 

Having initially taken the lead, Denmark found themselves 2-1 down in the 84th minute when Belén Aquino Moreira found the net – but that would not be the end of the story as goals from Rikke Sevecke and Janni Thomsen in the 89th and 90th minute respectively turned the game around. 

Snerle was introduced in the 56th minute and appeared in all three matches for her country during the break. 

There are still two matches left to play before the international break concludes, with Risa Shimizu & Honoka Hayashi preparing to take on Canada in their final match of the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday 22 February, whilst Izzy Atkinson could be in action for the Republic of Ireland against China. 
 

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