Iceland Defeats Czech Republic 2-1 On Second Match Day Of 2022 SheBelieves Cup Presented By Visa
First Half Goals from Natasha Anasi and Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir Pace Iceland to Its Second Win of the Tournament
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CARSON, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2022) – Iceland scored on two classy finishes in the first half to defeat the Czech Republic, 2-1, on the second match day of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. The win puts Iceland at the top of the standings and needing just a tie against the USA on Feb. 23 vs. the USA in Frisco, Texas to take the tournament title. The USA needs a win to take SheBelieves Cup title.
Iceland opened the scoring in the 11th after forward Amanda Andradóttir received the ball on the left flank following a blocked corner kick. She escaped her defender with a clever turn and sent in a cross to the far post which Natasha Anasi headed powerfully into the net from close range.
The Czech Republic threatened with an equalizer in the 15th minute when Miroslava Mrázová connected with a header, but her attempt went just wide. Three minutes later Iceland doubled their lead after midfielder Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir collected the ball just past midfield, dribbled up the field and laid it off to Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir at the top right of the box. From there, she shot hard and low across the goal and just inside the left corner to make it 2-0.
The Czechs pushed hard in the second half and had several golden chances to pull a goal back but were denied by some scrambling, last-ditch defending from Iceland and a few nice saves from goalkeeper Telma Ívarsdóttir.
Iceland had two great chances back-to-back around the 83rd minute that drew brilliant saves from Alexandra Vanickova to keep the game close.
The Czechs finally pulled a goal back in the 86th minute after Michaela Khyrova got in behind the defense in the left side of the penalty box, slickly evaded the onrushing goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the open net with her left foot. The Czechs then blasted a shot over the top on a quick transition seconds later and had a great chance in the 89th, only to be denied by a sliding Iceland defender who cleared away a dangerous cross. On the ensuing corner kick, Simona Necidova headed just wide at the far post and Iceland held on for the win.
In the dying seconds, Vanickova made another great save one an Iceland one-on-one chance to cap perhaps the most entertaining match of the tournament so far. Czech Republic actually out-shot Iceland 22-15 for the match and 10-9 in shots on goal.
Iceland and Czech Republic are in the same UEFA qualifying group for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Iceland currently sitting in second place behind the Netherlands having earned nine points from four matches. The Czechs are in third place with five points from four matches and lost to Iceland in 4-0 in Reykjavík last October. The two teams will meet again on April 12 in Teplice, Czech Republic in a crucial match for both teams’ World Cup aspirations. The countries that win their World Cup qualifying groups will advance to the Australia/New Zealand while the second-place finishers will go into the playoffs.
The center referee for the match was Natalie Simon, who recently became the first Black woman to earn a FIFA referee badge.
The 2022 SheBelieves Cup concludes on Sunday, Feb. 23 with the final doubleheader of the tournament at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. New Zealand and Czech Republic will face off in the first match of the day (6 p.m. ET on ESPN3) before the USA takes on Iceland (9 p.m. ET on ESPN and PrendeTV) in the last match of the tournament.
- 2022 SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT -
Match: Czech Republic Women’s National Team vs. Iceland Women’s National Team
Date: February 20, 2022
Competition: 2022 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, Calif.
Attendance: 3,577
Kickoff: 3:20 p.m. PT
Weather: 61 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CZE 0 1 1
ISL 2 0 2
ISL -- Natasha Moraa Anasi (Amanda Andradóttir) 11th minute
ISL -- Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir (Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir) 18
CZE -- Michaela Khýrová 85
Lineups:
CZE: 23-Alexandra Vaníčková (16-Olivie Lukášová, 46); 13-Jitka Chlastáková (9-Andrea Stašková, 84), 4-Petra Bertholdová (Capt.) (19-Simona Necidová, 46), 3-Kateřina Kotrčová, 6-Michaela Khýrová; 14-Klára Cvrčková (5-Gabriela Šlajsová, 66), 8-Aneta Pochmanová,12-Klára Cahynová (11-Tereza Krejčiříková, 73), 18-Kamila Dubcová, 22-Franny Cerny (2-Anna Dlasková, 66); 21-Miroslava Mrázová
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Barbora Votíková, 7-Lucie Martínková, 10-Kateřina Svitková, 15-Antonie Stárová, 17-Tereza Szewieczková, 20-Kateřina Bužková
Head coach: Karel Rada
ISL: 12-Telma Ívarsdóttir; 20-Ásta Eir Árnadóttir, 19-Natasha Moraa Anasi (18-Guðrún Arnardóttir, 84), 6-Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, 3-Elísa Viðarsdóttir (Capt.); 8-Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (9-Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir, 46), 15-Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir, 7-Karitas Tómasdóttir (5-Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir, 77); 16-Amanda Andradóttir, 21-Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (22-Ída María Hermannsdóttir, 46), 14-Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir (23-Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, 77)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Sandra Sigurðardóttir, 13-Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir, 2-Sif Atladóttir, 4-Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, 10-Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, 11-Hallbera Guðný Gísladóttir, 17-Agla María Albersdóttir
Head coach: Thorsteinn Halldorsson
Stats Summary: CZE / ISL
Shots: 22 / 15
Shots on Goal: 10 / 9
Saves: 4 / 9
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Fouls: 4 / 8
Offside: 0 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
ISL - Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (Caution) 43rd minute
Officials:
Referee: Natalie Simon (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Meghan Mullen (USA)
4th Official: Karen Callado (USA)
2022 SheBelieves Cup Standings
|
TEAM |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
|
ISL |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
+3 |
6 |
|
USA |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
+5 |
4 |
|
CZE |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
1 |
|
NZL |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
-6 |
0 |