West Ham United women's team shot-stopper Kinga Szemik and Poland have been promoted from UEFA Women’s Nations League Group B1, as the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in a resounding 4-0 victory against Northern Ireland on Friday night.
Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor netted a brace and Paulina Tomasiak found the net to give the visitors a three-goal lead on the half-hour mark before Adriana Achcińska added Poland’s fourth two minutes after the restart in Belfast.
Poland have an unassailable lead at the summit of the standings, having won four of their five matches in the competition, automatically promoting them to League A.
Elsewhere, Jessie Stapleton and her Republic of Ireland side have secured a promotion play-off spot in Group B2 courtesy of a late 2-1 win away at Turkey.
After Kader Hançar gave the hosts the lead on 49 minutes, the visitors turned the game on its head, netting two goals in the final ten minutes of the contest to seal second spot in the standings.
The Hammers’ Satpleton played all 90 minutes of the contest in Istanbul, while Halle Houssein was an unused substitute for Turkey.
Also confirmed a promotion play-off spot are Finland, following their convincing 3-0 victory at Belarus in Group B3 courtesy of Sanni Franssi's eighth-minute goal, which was followed by a second-half brace from substitute Linda Sällström.
West Ham midfielder Oona Siren played all 90 minutes of Finland’s victory at Szent Gellért Fórum in Szeged, while defender Eva Nyström was not in the away side’s matchday squad.
The win means Finland have guaranteed at least a promotion play-off place, but could clinch top spot in the final match of the group-stage campaign should they defeat current leaders Serbia when they meet on Tuesday in Helsinki.
Meanwhile, in Group A1, left-back Verena Hanshaw helped Austria keep a clean sheet as they clinched a 1-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.
Julia Hickelsberger’s goal in the 62nd minute was enough to claim all three points for the visitors, who, after results elsewhere in the group, will finish their Nations League campaign third in the table and in the relegation play-offs.
Elsewhere, it is all to play for in Group A2 for Dagný Brynjarsdóttir and Iceland following their 1-1 draw away at second-place Norway.
The Hammers midfielder was introduced in the 66th minute with her side a goal to the good, but the hosts found a leveller seven minutes from time, as Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir turned the ball into her own net.
Iceland could gain a promotion play-off spot on Tuesday when they host top-of-the-table France, if they better Norway’s result against Seraina Piubel’s Switzerland, who fell to a 4-0 defeat against leaders on Friday evening.
Piubel was sent on as a half-time substitute in Nancy with her side three goals down, and France added their fourth on 56 minutes through Grace Geyoro.
Belgium also tasted defeat, as they fell to a 5-1 loss at home to high-flying Spain in Group A3.
Tine De Caigny netted a consolation for the hosts in Leuven, as West Ham’s Amber Tysiak again picked up another 90 minutes for her country.
Currently sat at the foot of the standings, Belgium could finish in third should they defeat Portugal on Tuesday in Funchal.
Earlier on Friday, Manuela Paví played all of Colombia’s 1-0 win over South Korea in Incheon, in which Catalina Usme’s 26th-minute goal was enough to secure a victory for the visitors in the friendly at Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field.
Also in friendly action was Shekiera Martinez, who played the first half of Germany U23s’ friendly fixture with USA U23s in Aspach.
The forward started the match at WIRmachenDRUCK Arena and was withdrawn at half-time with her side a goal down.
Hoffenheim midfielder Mara Alber looked to have snatched a draw for the hosts having struck in the 86th minute, but Evelyn Shores scored a second-half stoppage time winner for the USA.
Meanwhile, Riko Ueki was an unused substitute for Japan in their 3-1 friendly loss to Brazil in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The home side stormed to a three-goal lead in São Paulo on 55 minutes before Brighton & Hove Albion's Kiko Seike netted a consolation for Japan in the dying stages.
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