Ukraine women’s national football team defeated Bulgaria by 3-0 in the League B second leg play-offs of the Women’s League of Nations. The match was played at Mardan Palace Stadium in Antalya. In the first match, Ukraine won by 4-0 and thus send the Bulgarian women’s national football team back into League C of the Women’s League of Nations.
The Ukrainians outplayed the Bulgarian team in the first match, and now the picture was not much different. As early as the 15th minute, Roksolana Kravchuk headed the far post after a right-wing attack and a shot from the penalty area, and Olha Ovdiychuk opened the scoring after the ball ricocheted back to her.
Two minutes later, the Ukrainian women doubled their lead and ended the dispute. Natiya Pantsulaya took a free kick from the right, passed it to Roksolana Kravchuk, who crossed. Inna Hlushchenko was the smartest, overtook the Bulgarian defense and scored for 2-0.
The Bulgarian team then took the game to the midfield and tried some decent attacks. Yoana Stankova and Ivana Naydenova tried their luck, but Ukraine goalkeeper Kateryna Samson saved their shots.
The second half started with pressure from Ukraine, but after the 70th minute, Bulgaria took control of the initiative again. And just when the match seemed equal, it came to a third goal for Ukraine. In the 81st minute, the right defender Anna Petryk passed from a foul and Lyubov Shmatko headed the ball into the Bulgarian net.
Meanwhile, Latvia and Montenegro also relegated to League C of the Women’s League of Nations. Latvia lost to Slovakia by 0-6 and with aggregate score of 9-0 relegates to lower level, while Montenegro made a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland, but with aggregate score of 3-1 also lost the play-off.
In the League A relegation play-off matches of the Women’s League of Nations, Iceland women’s national football team turned over the match versus Serbia and won by 2-1 after a great second half of Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir, who scored for 1-1 and assisted for 2-1. Thus, Iceland won the play-off with aggregate score of 3-2.
Norway smashed Croatia by 5-0 after the goals of Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland (9′), Loverpool’s Sophie Roman Haug (32′ and 40′), and Asrelanal’s Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum (66′ and 79′). With an aggregate score of 8-0, the Norwegian women’s national football team remains in League A, while Croatia relegates to League B.
Belgium achieved another 5-1 victory versus Hungary and after aggregate score of 10-2 also keeps their place in League A of the Women’s League of Nations.
