Scotland: Scotland wins the first Challenger Trophy at the Junior World Cup

Scotland 1-1(4-3) Chile

The inaugural Challenger Trophy has found a home in Scotland after the Scots defeated Chile 4-3 in Santiago at the Women’s Junior World Cup. The match ended 1-1 in Santiago in the evening, before the dramatic shootout.

The best chance of the opening quarter went to Scotland. A strong run from Cat Nelli set up Marianna Maclean, who fired a shot just wide of the right post.

Jess Mitchell was called into action in the second quarter and produced a pair of close post saves to prevent a Chilean lead at the break.

Scotland started to apply a lot of pressure in the third quarter. Nelli made a drive-run down the right and her pass across the goal evaded Mhairi Low’s stick.

Lexie McMaillan then took off running along the baseline and her pass evaded Scotland’s attackers at the far post.

Maclean was the next to go close when she hit the post after attacking from the left in the circle.

Then a great blow, when Parada scored against the style of play for Chile, sliding the ball low under the keeper for 1-0.

Chile piled on the pressure at the start of the final quarter, but it would be Scotland who would find the net. Jen Cain equalized with a turn and shot into a penalty corner after Connie Roxburgh’s pass for 1-1

Kirsten Murison almost took advantage of a deflection from a penalty corner as Scotland pushed for a winner, but no more goals followed and we went to a shootout.

Cat Nelli converted a penalty to make it 1-0 before Lucy Harris produced an excellent save to keep Scotland ahead. Chile then made it 3-1, but Ava Wadsworth and Jess Garden both converted before Harris made another sudden death save.

Harris produced another sudden death save, allowing Nelli to beat home plate and give Scotland a 4–3 shootout victory to lift the Challenger Trophy.

Player of the match Ava Wadsworth said: “Chile made it tough, and the fans were great, we showed fight and we’re so happy to come out on top. It was a great performance and great to win on penalties again.”