Slovenia v Kyrgyzstan
Slovenia (4) v Kyrgyzstan (4)- Kyrgyzstan win 1-0 on penalties
In what was among the best matches of the day, Slovenia and Kyrgyzstan went head to head and tested the supporter's nerves to the maximum. Slovenia went ahead after 17 seconds but it was the Kyrgyzstan number 7 who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. She got the bll forward quickly and along with the Danish stand-in striker spearheaded the threatening Kyrgyzstan attack. They were unlucky to have a penalty saved after bringing the score to 1-1, denied by the classy Slovenian keeper. An extremely entertaining fairly contested first half saw Kyrgyzstan go 3-1 up before Slovenia reduced the defecit to a single goal 2 seconds from the half time whistle. 3-2 to Slovenia at half time.
Patient passing play from both teams kept the score static until Slovenia drew level on the two and a half minute mark. Kyrgyzstan kept it tense by edging in front soon afterwards and repeatedly forcing mroe quality saves from Slovenia's man between the sticks. Kyrgyzstan showed their class by playing sensible passing football, using every player to maximize the playing area, wearing the rsesistant Slovenian defence down. It was Slovenia who scored next however, with their number 10 netting a superb goal. With the scores tied at 4-4 at the final whistle the game went to sudden death penalties.
Kyrgyzstan put their faith in their number 7 with the first penalty and she didn't disappoint, slotting her shot into the top right hand corner of the goal. As the tension intensified the stand-in Danish keeper saved the Slovenian effort to win a superb game for Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan celebrated their victory with the crowd but the Slovenian players should be equally happy with their performance, as they participated in one of the best games on pitch 2 today. The Kyrgyzstan number 7 provided yet more evidence of her good chance of claiming the female player of the tournament award.
Matthew Simpson and Signe Ramskov Hansen