ways of showing immediate actions

[retro]

Is there any difference between the two ways of showing an immediate action that follows another?

1.
a. She got to the station to find that the train had left.
b. She got to the station and found that the train had left.

2.
a. The coach saw the kid play tennis to discover him
b. The coach saw the kid play tennis and discovered him.

3.
a. Owen grabbed the winner to send England into the semifinal.
b. Owen grabbed the winner and sent England into the semifinal.

[Lucky6]

a. The coach saw the kid play tennis to discover him
b. The coach saw the kid play tennis and discovered him.

In these pairs the first (a) is unclear.

[retro]

a. The coach saw the kid play tennis to discover him
b. The coach saw the kid play tennis and discovered him.

In these pairs the first (a) is unclear.

In 1 and 3 are the pairs equivalent; is a. or b. more commonly used?

Thanks!

[Anglika]

In 1 and 3 the statements are equivalent. If anything, I would say that #b is a bit more used than #a. Either would be fine.