Scotland U21s 3-0 Luxembourg U21s: Stark's side still in with a shout for Israel despite struggles in Paisley

Graeme Macpherson
Football Writer

THEY got there in the end.

Needing a victory to keep alive their chances of reaching next summer's European Championship finals, Billy Stark's Scotland under-21 side initially made heavy weather of deposing Luxembourg before a second-half rally saw them through.

It was hard work, mind you. The Netherlands will finish as winners of Group 10 should they draw at home to Austria tonight, but Scotland could yet join them in the play-offs as one of four best second-placed teams. Last night's victory, the first at home in the campaign, leaves them in sixth place in the table of runners-up but a win away to Austria in their final match could be sufficient to extend the campaign.

Needless to say, Scotland will likely need to play better in Altach on Monday than they showed for long spells against a Luxembourg side who were as obdurate for the first hour or so as they had been for spells in the corresponding fixture last October.

Those who had turned out on a miserable night in Paisley expecting a turkey shoot had to be patient as Stark's side struggled at first to find a way through a defence whose resoluteness stood in contrast to their abysmal goals against tally in their six preceding group games. It was a source of relief as much of joy to the crowd of 2004 inside St Mirren Park when the visitors' resistance was finally broken midway through the second half.

"Them working really hard and being hard to break down didn't really surprise me," said Stark. "At half-time we told the players not to panic and keep doing the things they were doing. With [Luxembourg] having 45 minutes in their legs, we thought we would be able to wear them down a wee bit and that's how it proved."

It was Luxembourg, in fact, who had the best chance of the first half. Billy Bernard outjumped the Scottish defence to meet Alessandro Alunni's cross flush on the forehead but was denied by a fine fingertip save by Jordan Archer. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper was only thrust in to the fray because of injuries to Mark Ridgers and Grant Adam but this was the ideal way to settle any lingering nerves on the occasion of his second cap.

The visitors had the second best opportunity of the half, too. Danny Wilson fouled the exotically-named Raphael de Sousa at the edge of the box and in an inviting central position. Admir Skrijelj wasted the opportunity, however, thudding his shot into the defensive wall.

Scotland, meanwhile, drew an early save out of Philippe Hahm – the goalkeeper tipped away Johnny Russell's effort from a tight angle – but failed to produce anything else of any real consequence in an otherwise underwhelming first period. Ross Perry had a header that drifted wide while a goalmouth stramash ended with Rhys McCabe leathering a shot high over the crossbar. The game by this point was as unappealing as the dreich weather, Scotland needing to increase the tempo if they were to put Luxembourg under any real pressure.

There were at least signs of greater intent in the second half. Leigh Griffiths had a free kick well saved by Hahm – Paul Hanlon then skewed the rebound off target – before Griffiths embarrassed himself with a fresh-air swipe after Scott Allan's cross had picked him out in the penalty box.

Then, at last, the breakthrough after 63 minutes. Russell's attempted shot ricocheted into the path of Stuart Armstrong, his Dundee United team-mate, and the midfielder took a touch before sending a composed finish high into the net.

Within five minutes there was another goal to celebrate. Russell was again involved, this time providing a more orthodox assist for Griffiths, who swept a left-foot shot into the net. The scoring was completed eight minutes from time when substitute Tony Watt won and then converted a penalty. It keeps alive Scotland's chances of qualifying for the play-offs and Stark was satisfied with that.

"It's hard to say whether a win will be enough for us, we just need to wait and see," he added. "The important thing is that there is a chance. We have to be confident and defend properly, and we have players who can create things. We've got through seven games unbeaten so far – the boys deserve great credit."

Taken from the Herald