England lift Qualifier trophy in Catania

The Lionesses beat Ukraine in the final in Catania

England down Ukraine in Qualifier final

The final started as a tight affair, with the keepers being called into action on several occasions to keep the score at 0-0 going into the second period.

England were defending an unbeaten record in Catania and looked the better of the two sides, slowly increased the pressure until the breakthrough came from a Gemma Hillier free kick, acrobatically celebrated.

Molly Clark doubled the lead, nodding in at the far post and in the third period Kempson fired a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

Then it was just a case of seeing the game out until the final whistle, as Hannah Haughton managed to keep a clean sheet, and the Lionesses claim the title of the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier champion, just as they did in 2019 at the same Qualifier in Salou, Spain.

RESULTS (04/09)

Final England 3-0 Ukraine

Playoff (3th place) Spain 5-3 Italy

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MVP: Molly Clark (ENG) Top Scorer: Cris (ESP) Best Goalkeeper: Anastasiia Terekh (UKR)

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