BRA v GBR in Women's Beach Soccer Semifinals at Katara Beach during day five of the 1st ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 (Photo David Aliaga / Laurel Photo Services)
Goalkeeper Hannah Mary Haughton saved a crucial penalty kick with two seconds left for the final whistle to help Great Britain register a fighting 6-5 win over Brazil in the semi-finals of the ANOC World Beach Games at Katara beach on Tuesday evening.
They now take on the winner of the second semi-final between Spain and Russia in wednesday final at the same venue on the closing day of the six-day event which is contested in 13 different sports.
Haughton, who played a crucial role in the in was delighted to guide the team to the medal match finale.
“I don’t think I’m aloud to say it on the mic. But no, it was two seconds and I just had to take a minute to focus and then it was just trying to work her out and such and I got lucky to guess the way that she was going. I thought it’s a high pressure shot, they’re going to try and hit it high, and lucky enough I got it right and managed to tip it over the bar.” Haughton said. When asked as to what was going on mind nas she prepared to defend a penalty kick with two seconds left for the final whistle.
She was also called upon to save another penalty kick before the last one which was not so difficult.
“Oh, I just cried, it just oh. We’ve gotten to the world final, like this is incredible and yeah, just being able to help my team in those last couple of seconds after all they’ve helped me through it’s just incredible,” added Haughton said.
The goalkeeper was complimented the good work of team-mate Sarah Elizabeth Kempson’s.
“Kempa (Kempson) she’s amazing, honestly absolutely amazing, unbelievable. She works hard and she’s got this magic left foot when you need it the most, she’s there and she pops up with two absolute screamers to win it for us today,” said Haughton.
Great Britain will miss Wendy Irene Martin’s on on account of the red card in the semi-final.
“She won’t be involved in the final, which is a shame. Everything she did today, she’s helped the team get here and we can’t fault her performances, she’s been absolutely fantastic, and I’m gutted for her,” Haughton said about Martin’s suspension for the final.
Haughton is now excited to lay her hands on the gold medal in today’s final.
"I don’t think words could describe that, but that’s what we want to do. The team’s amazing and we’re all here to support each other, and it will come down tomorrow at the end of the day.”
“We had a couple of players come in quite recently, a goalkeeper and a striker, but the rest of the squad has been formed for about three or four years, some of us has been in it for seven years. It’s been a hard graft to get to where we are. We’ve been here since the start of (women’s) beach soccer, before there was a world or European stage,” said Sarah Elizabeth Kempson when asked as to how long the team has been playing together:
Kempson is hopeful the entry into the final will motivate more girls in Britain .
“This is what we’ve been saying all along, to create a legacy, to create opportunities going forward for the younger generations, we want to build and build and build, so they can have those opportunities we’ve had, and have more opportunities than we’ve had. I am not near the end of my career, I hope, but 10 years down the line I hope there’s people taking our places and pushing GB forward.”
“Usually when I practice, they don’t go that good, so I don’t know, said the Great Britain striker,on whether she practices long-range free kicks, like the one she scored on Tuesday.
Kempson praised the organisation of the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games: “It’s just an incredible experience. Beach Soccer Worldwide have worked hard to build to this point. You know, two, three years ago we only had two tournaments a year, we’re up to five this year. So, to be at a world stage, international competition, an Olympic competition, is absolutely extraordinary and we’re really proud to be part of it, and we’re also really proud that we’ve made the final now. So hopefully, we can go in, play the way we play, put on a show, make it entertaining and come away with that gold medal.”
The finalists will miss out on Katie Louise James and Hannah Jean Short through suspension.
“Unfortunately, they’re banned, that’s just what happens in beach soccer, you play as you play. It’s just one of those games, like any sport, you put your heart and soul into it and sometimes you pick up bookings, that’s just the way sport goes,” said Kempson after the match.
“It’s a squad game and in a semi-final you just play, you don’t think about anything else. For us it’s just getting out there, working as hard as we can, and I said to my roomie [James], who was one of the ones whose banned, I said before the game, we’ll get you to the final, don’t worry,” she added.
