Olivia Holdt’s Denmark recorded an emphatic 5-1 win over Olga Ahtinen’s and Eveliina Summanen’s Finland in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League play-off match on Friday evening.
Earning a recall to the Dane squad after a stellar start to the Barclays Women’s Super League, netting four goals in eight games across all competitions, the exciting midfielder was introduced in the 79th minute at Tammelan Stadion in Tampere.
Three first half goals from Denmark – with Emma Snerle, Sofie Svava and Pernille Harder on target – put them in control of the contest before Harder and Sara Holmgaard further extended their advantage.
Although Lotta Lindstrom netted a late consolation goal for the Fins, Denmark restored their five-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday’s second leg of the play-off match as Holmgaard netted a brace to make it 6-1.
That was Olivia’s eight cap for her nation to date.
Eveliina Summanen started the match but was substituted in the 44th minute – replaced by Olga Ahtinen who went on to complete the rest of the contest.
Lize Kop registered a clean sheet on her return to the starting XI for the Netherlands in a goalless draw with Poland in an international friendly.
Our number one was in from the start to earn her 15th cap for her nation in what was quite an uneventful game at the Polsant Plus Arena in Gdansk, Poland.
Facing two shots on target in the contest, Lize was on hand to preserve a clean sheet for the Dutch side on the night – her fourth in total while representing her country.
Elsewhere, Toko Koga’s Japan were held to a 1-1 draw with Italy in an international friendly.
The young central defender started the match in Como for her 23rd cap and went on to complete 80 minutes in total as Giada Greggi’s opener was cancelled out by Yui Hasegawa.
Anna Csiki’s Hungary side enjoyed a big 4-0 win over Luxembourg with the midfielder starting in the international friendly on Friday evening.