Assists for quartet on international duty

Zhang Linyan, Eveliina Summanen, Angharad James and Rosella Ayane all registered assists for their respective countries over a weekend of mixed results for our players on international duty.

On-loan forward Zhang helped China get their Olympic qualifying campaign back on track by setting up her side’s second goal in their 3-0 victory over Thailand in Xiamen on Sunday.

Introduced as a half-time substitute in a 2-1 defeat by North Korea on Thursday, Zhang this time played the full 90 minutes and came up with the aforementioned key contribution midway through the second half.

Eveliina also notched an assist in a 3-0 home win for Finland over Croatia on Friday night as they maintained their 100 per cent record in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. The midfielder put on a great performance throughout the game and set up her side’s third goal in stoppage time. Club team-mate Olga Ahtinen came on for Finland for the final 16 minutes.

Angharad, meanwhile, set up Wales’ goal in their 5-1 defeat in Germany on Friday, also completing the full 90 minutes, while Rosella provided an assist for Morocco in a 2-0 home victory against Namibia in an Olympic qualifier on Thursday.

Elsewhere in the Nations League on Friday, Luana Buhler completed the full game for Switzerland in their 1-0 defeat in Sweden, Martha Thomas played 80 minutes for Scotland in their 4-0 defeat away to the Netherlands, Celin Bizet was introduced as an 89th-minute substitute as Norway suffered a 2-1 home loss at the hands of France and Grace Clinton was an unused substitute on her first-ever senior matchday squad appearance for England as the Lionesses won 1-0 at home to Belgium. Barbora Votikova was also an unused substitute for Czech Republic in their 1-0 loss away to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In other international action over the last few days, Jess Naz was introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute for England Under-23s in their 1-1 draw away to Italy on Thursday night while, on Saturday, Shelina Zadorksy was an unused substitute for Canada in their 1-0 home friendly defeat by Brazil.

Jess and England Under-23s are back on duty this evening (Monday 30 October) with a home friendly against Portugal before Nations League action resumes on Tuesday.