Honours even as both sides chased the win
The three match ‘Atlantic Series’ finished all square as Scotland and USA drew the third match after winning one match apiece going into, what could have been, the decider.
Scotland started far the better side and had USA defending for all they were worth. An early sequence of penalty corners – Willie Marshall failing to convert twice – ended with the first goal of the game from Scotland’s Michael Bremner for the lead after six minutes.
As the quarter and, indeed, the half progressed, the visitors were looked more and more likely to score, while at the other end, Scotland had a couple of chances which went begging. Then, late on in the half, Scotland’s Robert Harwood had a fine reverse strike equally finely saved by USA’s keeper, Jonathan Clages.
However, neither side managed to find the back of the net before the hooter went for half time, so they went into the break with Scotland 1-0 ahead.
The third quarter was a bit of a non-event with neither side looked especially dangerous with the only serious goal-scoring chance being a penalty corner for Scotland.
The fourth and final quarter started with a bang as the USA went on the attack from the whistle and scored within a minute of the restart. The ball was passed back, then immediately launched up the line where it was collected by Kei Kaeppler. He drove deep into the Scots’ D and dummied to turn the ball back inside the keeper to Sean Cicchi who was sliding in. That move opened up a gap at the near post for Kaeppler to slot the ball home for the equaliser.
With the match level, it was all-or-nothing for both sides, but despite a string of attempts from both teams, the match remained level at the end as did the overall series.
USA now go off to play in Ireland and Scotland go off to prepare for whatever lies ahead.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
