Women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship II-A (Salon-de-Provence, France)
France produced a superb second half performance to defeat Italy 3-0 and guarantee themselves a place in the women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship II-A final with a game to spare.
That means they will play for gold, Euro promotion and a Junior World Cup spot on Saturday at Salon-de-Provence.
After a scoreless first half, Léopoldine Coppin scored from the second of her side’s two corners. Hortense Gouillon’s bouncing shot bamboozled the Italian defence for 2-0 in the 43rd minute and Heloise Mekki added an extra garnish to the final score in the closing minutes.
It lifts the French hosts to six points and confirmed in the top two but who joins them to be determined on Friday with all nations still in contention.
That is because Ukraine and Lithuania both got off the mark as they shared a 1-1 draw in the opening game of day two with both goals arriving in the second quarter.
Valeriia Bezditko gave Ukraine the lead from a corner but Lithuania replied with a corner of their own, upgraded to a stroke soon after, which captain Rugilė Daukantaitė.
Ukraine had three late corners but could not take advantage and so both sides had to settle for a point each.
The next two games take place on Friday morning with Ukraine playing Italy at 9.00 CEST before France face Lithuania at 11.15.
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