Helmarit received one red jersey as a souvenir – “A little empty feeling”

In the end, Linda Sällström’s opening goal didn’t even help Finland to a draw. José Breton

Ria Öling became the first Helmarit player to leave Stadium MK.

The 1-4 loss to Spain leaves no room for posturing. It was clear that there was one favorite for the championship, and even a draw would have required an incredible stretch and a lot of luck.

– We had a really good start to the match. But after that we couldn’t get the pressing game to work and we got too low, Öling admitted.

“Good start” is actually an understatement Anna Westerlund for a long vertical pass that split the La Roja defense. Linda Sällström ran through and scored the opening goal through the back post.

Westerlund and Sällström were on the field at the same time already 13 years ago, when Finland played the quarterfinals of the home games. It was Sällström’s previous EC match.

He then scored the last goal of the match. Now he bombed Finland into the lead when there were only seconds on the clock.

Both times the matches ended in Helmarie’s defeat.

Superior resistance

The best player of Friday’s match was chosen Fence Bonmati. The FC Barcelona professional grabbed the ball under his arm right after Finland’s opening goal and started running to the center circle.

At the same time, he signaled to his teammates that there is still time.

It was over 89 minutes.

For Finland, the lead came too early. The script written by the coaching staff for this match immediately flew out the window.

– You can never say that the goal came too early. I will gladly accept it in the next game as well, Öling continued to Iltalehte.

– Of course it changed the game. But it wasn’t because of the goal that we became passive. We changed the grouping in the second period and it worked better.

Even the 4–1 numbers tell of a certain superiority. It gets even bigger when the numbers are split into parts.

Scoring opportunities 32-4, attacks 62-10 and successful passes 622-131.

– Yes, they controlled the ball more. Their first press is really effective, and we didn’t get out of it easily, Öling admitted.

A shirt to remember

We could continue to argue at least about the fact that traditionally Spain has not been strong in the main game, but now its players scored the first three goals before Marion Caldentey placed the overtime winner in the top corner.

The first and third of the rebound goals came from special situations.

– We need to practice them more. Things like that make the difference in tough places like this. Now noticed that they have more experience with these.

The head coach Anna Signeul was satisfied that Spain could only score one goal out of 17 corner kicks. Irene Paredes channeled his inner carlespuyol and powered home a 1-1 equalizer in the 26th minute.

Bonmati, who ignited his teammates with his play, then gave La Roja the lead before the break with his top corner placement worthy of international goalscorers.

Paredes pair of boots Mapi León was responsible for both Bonmat’s hit and the one that decided the match once and for all by Lucía García from a 3–1 hit.

Disturbed in Spain’s defensive line Leila Ouahabi wanted to change his shirt after the match Emmi Alanen with.

– I didn’t know him from his advantage. At some point, he came to ask, and of course I agreed, Alanen said.

However, the stylish red shirt of the defender, who just moved to Manchester City, was probably the only thing the Helmarii kept from the opening match in Milton Keynes.

– In terms of results, this is of course disappointing. Feeling a bit empty, Alanen decided.