Ireland kept their hopes alive of advancing through to the European Hockey Championship semi-finals on Monday.
Naomi Carroll's goal was the difference as they overcame Scotland 1-0 in Amstelveen.
Spain take on pool-toppers The Netherlands tonight, with all indications suggesting that progression to the knockout stage will come down to a straight shootout between Ireland and Spain on Wednesday.
Full Time. @IreWomenHockey beating @ScottishHockey 1-0 with goal from @NaomiCarroll13 Onto the next V Spain Wednesday 11:30 live on RTÉ 2.#ehc2021 pic.twitter.com/hLQr6kUXop
— Hockey Ireland (@irishhockey) June 7, 2021
Ireland were expected to beat Scotland, but they were frustrated for three quarters at Wagener Stadium.
Failing to capitalise on the better opportunities that they enjoyed, it looked as though Ireland were set to endure a disappointing result.
However, they came good in the early stages of the final quarter to edge in front.
Inefficiency from penalty corners was a feature of the display, but Roisin Upton's delivery eventually ended with Carroll slotting into the net.
Ireland then held on for a priceless three points and their first win of the campaign.
"It was a tough game, fair play to the Scots they defended really, really well and we knew it would take some time to break them down," Roisin Upton said after the match.
"We didn't execute our corners particularly well but I suppose just getting a shot on target, wanting to test the goalie, and really just being clinical with the rebound and in the fourth quarter we finally broke through."
Upton says the Spanish test on Wednesday promises to be an interesting tussle between two sides who know each other well.
"It's the decider I think," she conceded.
"Obviously, they have a big game tonight against the Dutch but for us, it's a must-win, you win two games in the pool you go to the semi-final, somewhere we've never been before.
"And this is a huge tournament for us, finishing top five, wanting to qualify for a World Cup for a second time in a row, just going somewhere that we haven't been.
"We've played the Spanish earlier on this year in five test games in Spain and we'll do our homework tomorrow and rest up and just look forward to that game."
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