Luxembourg U21s 1 Scotland U21s 5

Jordan Rhodes fired a hat-trick as Scotland Under-21s kick-started their European qualifying campaign with a comprehensive victory in Luxembourg.

The Huddersfield striker produced three penalty-box finishes as Scotland dominated from start to finish at the Stade Josy Barthel.

Alex MacDonald gave the visitors the lead just before the half-hour mark when his long-range effort squirmed out of the home goalkeeper's hands and Rhodes netted twice to finish the contest before the break.

The striker headed home the fourth as Scotland got a badly-needed win in their quest to reach the 2013 UEFA Under-21 Championship finals following their goalless opener against Bulgaria at St Mirren Park last month.

Grant Adam allowed Goncalo Almeida's long-range strike to beat him in the latter stages but Paul Hanlon restored Scotland's four-goal advantage.

Scotland coach Billy Stark made five changes, with Danny Wilson in after dropping out of the senior squad and Ryan Jack returning following a head knock. Gregg Wylde, Liam Palmer and MacDonald also came into the starting line-up.

Midfielders Liam Kelly and Tom Cairney missed out through injury while Callum Booth, Stuart Armstrong and Johnny Russell dropped to the bench.

Scotland controlled the game in the early stages but their first effort on goal, a 25-yard strike from Rhodes, was easily held by home goalkeeper Philippe Hahm.

The visitors remained dominant throughout the first quarter but lacked a cutting edge.

But they began to create chances just after the midway point in the half and both David Wotherspoon and Scott Allan fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Scotland made their pressure count in the 29th minute when MacDonald's long-range strike was fumbled into the net by Hahm.

The Burnley forward turned provider four minutes later when his cross was prodded into the net by Rhodes.

Rhodes dived to head just wide from Hanlon's cross but the lively striker added his second two minutes before the interval when he was left in yards of space to fire home from inside the box.

Wotherspoon tried his luck again from long range after the interval but the ball flashed wide as Scotland continued to control the game without coming under any threat from their hosts.

Rhodes completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute when he headed Wylde's left-wing cross into the top corner from 10 yards.

The forward, son of former Dunfermline goalkeeper Andy Rhodes, almost added another in the 69th minute when he beat two men but his shot was tipped over.

The English-born player, who qualifies for Scotland because he spent more than five years of his schooldays north of the border, was replaced by Leigh Griffiths in the 73rd minute.

The hosts netted an 83rd-minute consolation when Almeida's long-range shot slipped under Rangers goalkeeper Adam's body.

But Hanlon headed Hibernian team-mate Wotherspoon's free-kick in off the post four minutes later to complete a successful night for Stark's side ahead of the visit of Austria to Paisley on Monday.

Taken from sportinglife.com