Latest news with #KatariinaKosola
Powys County Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Finland's wait for Euros win is over as Katariina Kosola's strike sinks Iceland
Katariina Kosola scored the only goal of the game as Finland's 16-year wait for a win at a European Championship ended against Iceland at the Stockhorn Arena. The winger's smart 70th-minute finish came after Iceland's Hildur Antonsdottir was sent off to swing the opening match of the tournament in Finland's favour. After a cagey first half, the Group A clash opened up after the break, with the best chance coming in the 54th minute. 🇫🇮 Finland get off to a winning start! #WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 2, 2025 A long throw by Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir caused a scramble in Finland's box, with Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir's shot being blocked off the line by goalkeeper Anna Koivunen to keep the game goalless. But in the midst of the confusion, Iceland's Antonsdottir made contact with her studs on Eveliina Summanen in what was deemed, after a review, to be deliberate rather than an attempt to win the ball and she was shown a second yellow card. Iceland adapted and played on the break to continue their momentum despite the numerical disadvantage. Gudrun Arnardottir's failed backheel attempt after 67 minutes saw their next big chance go begging. But eventually Finland made use of the extra space to grab the winning goal 20 minutes from time. Summanen found the unmarked Kosola on the left-hand side of the box and she cut inside before producing a curled effort into the top-right corner.
Gulf Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Kosola shines in Finland's victory over 10-player Iceland at eves' Euro opening tie
Katariina Kosola was on the target as Finland held their nerve to beat 10-woman Iceland in the opening match of the Women Euro Championship in Thun on Wednesday. This was Finland first win since 2009 in the finals of any major. After a frustrating goalless first half, it was Finland, who found the net in the 70th minute to break the deadlock. Kosola picked up a pass from Summanen and latched it into the goal. Iceland goalkeeper Rúnarsdóttir got her hand on the shot but that was not enough to stop it. With the victory, Finland heaped more misery on Iceland who have lost their match in the last 14 games at Euro finals. They have registered just one win in their last 12 games. Finland made a winning start to boost their hopes of leaving behind the heart break of last two Euros where they exited in the group stages. Meanwhile, from tournament stalwarts Pia Sundhage and Sarina Wiegman to international debutante Rhian Wilkinson, the Women's European Championship that kicks off on Wednesday in Switzerland marks an historic high for female coaches. Iceland goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir fails to save a shot by Finland 's Katariina Kosola. AP But while women's soccer is one of the better sports for female representation, male coaches still have a slight edge in terms of numbers with nine of the 16 teams at Euro 2025 coached by men and seven by women. The 43.75% of female coaches is a seismic leap from Euro 2013, where just 18.75% of teams were coached by women. That figure had nearly doubled by 2017 and held steady in 2022 at 37.5%. 'It's clear progress is being made -- slowly but surely,' the Female Coaching Network said. 'Of course, there's still a long road ahead. Change takes time.' Lack of success has not been a factor. Between 2000 and the 2023 Women's World Cup, all but one of the major women's football tournaments -- World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics -- were won by female-coached teams. Norio Sasaki, the man who coached Japan to World Cup gold in 2011, was the sole exception. Iceland's Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir looks dejected after Finland's Katariina Kosola scores their first goal. Reuters Wiegman was the last woman standing in 2023 in Australia, where England reached their first World Cup final, losing to Spain. Spanish manager Luis Rubiales was fired and then found guilty of sexual assault and fined more than 10,000 euros ($10,798) for kissing national team player Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup trophy celebration in a case that sparked a nationwide furore. Sundhage is by far the most experienced coach at Euro 2025, having been head coach of the United States and Sweden for five years each, Brazil for four years and now hosts Switzerland. She guided the Americans to gold at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Wilkinson, who is coaching Wales in their major tournament debut, Elisabet Gunnarsdottir (Belgium), Nina Patalon (Poland), and Gemma Grainger (Norway) are the four women making their managerial debuts in a major senior tournament. Women represented about 13% of all coaches at last year's Paris Olympics, which was virtually unchanged from the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Iceland's midfielder #16 Hildur Antonsdottir (right) next to Finland's midfielder #09 Katariina Kosola (left) jumps for the ball. AFP Women's basketball led the way with 50%, followed by football (33%) and hockey (16%). Among the worst were athletics at 13%, women's rugby sevens (8%) and women's golf (6%). (Reporting by Lori Ewing in Zurich, editing by Clare Fallon) From tournament stalwarts Pia Sundhage and Sarina Wiegman to international debutante Rhian Wilkinson, the Women's European Championship that kicks off on Wednesday in Switzerland marks an historic high for female coaches. But while women's soccer is one of the better sports for female representation, male coaches still have a slight edge in terms of numbers with nine of the 16 teams at Euro 2025 coached by men and seven by women. The 43.75% of female coaches is a seismic leap from Euro 2013, where just 18.75% of teams were coached by women. That figure had nearly doubled by 2017 and held steady in 2022 at 37.5%. Agencies
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Finland Beat 10-Player Iceland 1-0 in Women's Euro 2025 Opener
FINLAND got Women's Euro 2025 up and running on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over 10-player Iceland, as hosts Switzerland get set for their opening clash against Norway. Katariina Kosola scored the only goal of the game with 20 minutes remaining in Thun as Finland moved provisionally top of Group A ahead of the day's late match in baking Basel. Temperatures hit 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) during the day at St Jakob-Park in Basel as a European heatwave moved eastwards towards nearby Germany. But the oppressive heat which has gripped much of western and southern Europe was not present in Thun, and Finland proved to be the cooler customers. Iceland were left without captain and star player Glodis Perla Viggosdottir at half-time, as the Bayern Munich centre-back was forced out of the match after twice needing treatment in the opening period. And things got trickier for Thorsteinn Halldorsson's team when Hildur Antonsdottir was sent off in the 58th minute for two quick bookings, the second for stamping on Eveliina Summanen's ankle off the ball. And Kosola rattled in the opening goal of the tournament as Finland took advantage of having an extra woman on the pitch, the Malmo midfielder cutting in and firing home past the outstretched fingers of Cecilia Runarsdottir. That strike was enough for Finland who next face Norway in Sion on Sunday.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Finland open Women's Euro 2025 with win over Iceland
FINLAND got Women's Euro 2025 up and running on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over 10-player Iceland, as hosts Switzerland get set for their opening clash against Norway. Katariina Kosola scored the only goal of the game with 20 minutes remaining in Thun as Finland moved provisionally top of Group A ahead of the day's late match in baking Basel. Temperatures hit 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) during the day at St Jakob-Park in Basel as a European heatwave moved eastwards towards nearby Germany. But the oppressive heat which has gripped much of western and southern Europe was not present in Thun, and Finland proved to be the cooler customers. Iceland were left without captain and star player Glodis Perla Viggosdottir at half-time, as the Bayern Munich centre-back was forced out of the match after twice needing treatment in the opening period. And things got trickier for Thorsteinn Halldorsson's team when Hildur Antonsdottir was sent off in the 58th minute for two quick bookings, the second for stamping on Eveliina Summanen's ankle off the ball. And Kosola rattled in the opening goal of the tournament as Finland took advantage of having an extra woman on the pitch, the Malmo midfielder cutting in and firing home past the outstretched fingers of Cecilia Runarsdottir. That strike was enough for Finland who next face Norway in Sion on Sunday.
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Finland kickstart Euro 2025 by beating 10-player Iceland
Katariina Kosola's goal gave Finland a 1-0 win over 10-player Iceland in the opening match of the Women's European Championship on Wednesday. Finland lost all three games at the last tournament, scoring one goal, but after Iceland's Hildur Antonsdottir's red card in the 58th minute, Kosola made the breakthrough 12 minutes later. The first half ended goalless, with Iceland threatening from set-pieces and Sveindis Jonsdottir's long throw-ins while Finland created the better chances but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Cecilia Runarsdottir. Inter Milan's Runarsdottir, voted best Serie A keeper last season, made an excellent diving save to keep out Kosola's shot from the edge of the area. Iceland lost captain Glodis Viggosdottir to injury, with the defender replaced at halftime. Another throw-in from Jonsdottir brought Iceland their first real opportunity after the break with Finnish keeper Anna Koivunen saving one effort and Emma Koivisto blocking another shot but it also led to the red card for Antonsdottir. Antonsdottir had been booked six minutes earlier and a rash off the ball challenge brought a second yellow card and left Iceland down to 10 with over half an hour remaining. The drums of the Icelandic fans echoed around the Arena Thun but it was Finland who now controlled the tempo on the pitch and deservedly found a way through. Kosola took the ball into the box and cut inside before smacking a beautiful shot, which Runarsdottir got a hand to but could not stop the ball sailing into the top corner. Iceland pushed to the end for an equaliser but Finland held on to take the three points. Finland face Norway next in Sion on Sunday, with Iceland, who have one win in 14 Euros matches, facing the Swiss in Bern. Reuters
