FORMER Glasgow City winger Abbi Grant scored her first senior international goal on her first start for Scotland as Shelley Kerr’s side won the four-nation Pinatar Cup tournament with a game to spare. They still have to play Northern Ireland on Tuesday night, having already beaten Ukraine 3-0.
Iceland, who have almost invariably been above Scotland in the FIFA rankings, adopted an almost servile approach in a one-sided first half. They played five at the back and rarely ventured into the Scotland half. It was only when they came out more positively in the second 45 that Grant got what proved to be the winner. It was a goal to remember for the Birmingham City forward who had already spurned a couple of chances.
“I was buzzing to have got the opportunity to start – and to get a goal was just a very sweet moment for me,” Grant said.
“I learned I was in two hours before the game at the team meeting. I was a bit shocked but just really happy. I knew I’d have to get my emotions together to do my best for the team.
“I feel the chances I missed in the first half were easier to put away than the one I scored. But these are the ones you like to get. It was a ball down the line. I drove into the box, jinked a few times, then cut on my left and thought I may as well shoot and see what happens.
“It caught the boot really well
and went in to the top corner. I’ve been practising a bit with the left and it paid off today. Sometimes it leaves your foot and you know it’s going in – and this was one of these times.”
Grant joined Belgian side Anderlecht from Scott Booth’s side at the start of last year after impressing in a Champions League qualifier the previous summer.
“I’m afraid the language barrier was a bit of an issue for me,” she admitted. “I knew I wanted to go on and play in England so my
thought process was to stay six months in Belgium, try and develop there, and then get the move. It happened so I’m really happy at Birmingham.”
Coach Shelley Kerr said: “We came to win the tournament. We’ve beaten the highest ranked team and the players have dealt with the pressure so overall I’m delighted.”
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