Türkiye hold the edge on goal difference over Italy going into the final day of the women’s EuroHockey Championship II in Lousada with plenty of sides still in the mix for the medals.
Those two are on 10 points but both face tricky ties against both Croatia and Slovakia who are lying just a couple of points back and looking to snatch a top two finish and promotion.
Indeed, Croatia and Slovakia played out a thriller to start the day, eventually sharing a 4-4 draw after the lead changed hands a number of times. The Croats led first through Lucija Nizek; Vanessa Čapová and Šarlota Medvikova turned it around for 2-1 and then 3-2 and 4-3.
But Croatia fought hard at the end and got the equaliser through Lucija Čepo with three minutes left for a point each.
Türkiye were too strong for Finland in a 25-0 final scoreline with Fatma Songül Gültekin scoring seven times.
Italy made it three wins from three with a narrow 4-3 success against Sweden; Eleonora di Paola got the only goal of the first half but the Italians looked in control at 3-0 soon after half-time.
Klara Moberg’s double, however, put the game right back into the balance in Q3 at 3-2; however Lola Brea gave Italy just enough breathing room down the final stretch to win out.
Croatia were back out for their second game of the day next and they produced a brilliant second half performance to defeat Portugal 10-2.
Captain Ana Nogueira got the hosts off to a flying start and it was close at 2-1 at half-time to the Croats but they found a different gear after the change of ends with Iskra Bedenko, Lucija Nizek and Ana Čolić all finding multiple goals.
In the battle of the 100% records, Italy and Türkiye could not be separated in a fiery 4-4 draw in which both sides led at different stages.
The Turks took the early initiative, leading 1-0 and 2-1 but found themselves 3-2 down in Q3 as Chiara di Bella netted two for the Italians.
The next swing in momentum went Türkiye’s way with Zeliha Kendir and Fatma Songül Gültekin’s second of the game putting them in from 4-3. It came amid a flurry of cards; in between Elettra Bormida made it 4-4 which was how it stayed to the final hooter.
Sweden finished the day on a high with a 4-0 win over Portugal with a late flourish. Nora Thien was all that separated the sides for most of the match before the Swedes scored three times in the last six minutes.
