UEFA Under-21 EURO 2025 Qualifier
Belgium 0-2 Scotland
Friday, 17th November 2023
The NEST, Roeselare

Scorers

Belgium 0

Scotland 2 (Jeremiah Mullen 13’, Lyall Cameron, 31’)

Team News

Liverpool starlet Ben Doak returned to the squad after missing the previous matches due to injury. Lyall Cameron and Dire Mebude were also welcome returns for the Scots.

Despite these returns - Jude Smith and Emilio Lawrence withdrew last week, with Tommy Conway, Max Johnston and Ben McPherson also withdrawing before the first meet-up of this month’s camp. Josh Doig was also on the original squad list, though he received his first senior call up, and therefore missed out. Scot Gemmill called up Aidan Denholm, Vincent Angelini, Finlay Robertson, Adam Devine, and Kai Fotheringham in their places.

Gemmill made four changes to the team that started in the 2-1 victory over Malta last month. Devine, Ibane Bowat, Lyall Cameron and Doak all returned to the starting XI to replace Liam Morrison, Alex Lowry, Josh Mulligan and Ben McPherson.

As It Happened

The Belgians largely dominated the ball in the opening exchanges, and they quickly began to create chances, most notably a shot from the edge of the box from Kazeem Olaigbe which flew over Slicker’s crossbar.

Just minutes later, Scotland stopper, Slicker was called into action for the first time following a long-range drive from Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels.  

Following a penalty shout for the Scots - against the run of play - Scotland took the lead from the resultant corner kick. Devine chipping a great ball into the box and Jeremiah Mullen was there to head home.

Looking for an immediate response, Belgian full back Hugo Siquet whipped in a great ball from a free kick right of the penalty area. His cross was met by Yousuff Sylla, but he could only steer his header wide.

Gemmill was then forced into an early change after an injury to Matthew Anderson. Denholm came on as his replacement, playing in an unfamiliar position at right wing-back.

Moments later, Slicker made a miraculous save after an Engels corner was deflected off Leysen. The ball looked certain to hit the back of the net until the Scots keeper somehow clawed it away from the danger area.  

The home side continued to dominate possession, though Scotland were threatening on the counter, using the pace of Doak and Cameron brilliantly.

This led to another penalty shout for the Scots, again from Doak, though the winger was deemed to have dived by the referee and was subsequently cautioned for simulation.

Experienced goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoort then made an untimely error, playing it straight to the feet of captain Connor Barron, who laid it off to Doak.

The winger found Cameron in the penalty box and the Dundee attacker expertly finished across the helpless Belgian keeper. Scotland had a two-goal lead on the half hour.

Belgium began to push to reduce the deficit with Olaigbe causing problems down the left-hand side. Despite his best efforts, the Scottish defence limited the winger to long-distance strikes, none of which troubled goalkeeper Slicker.

The half-time whistle sounded with the Scots leading 2-0. Though Belgium controlled possession, they lacked the cutting-edge in the final third, with the Scots using the ball expertly and being ruthless in front of goal.

Belgium unsurprisingly started the second half quickly as they tried to get themselves back into the match, penning the Scots into their own half.

Soon after, the first chance of the half came for the home side. Belgian captain Eliot Matazo’s header being saved comfortably by Slicker.

The Belgians continued applying the pressure as the second half continued and that pressure nearly paid off on 57 minutes when a close-range Engels shot was well-blocked by goal scorer, Mullen.

Despite a number of Belgian attacks in the second half’s early exchanges, the Scottish defence remained largely in control. The closest chance for the home side being a dangerous ball across the face of goal just shy of the 70th minute, which striker Sylla failed to connect with.

Six minutes later, they went close again as a loose ball in the Scottish penalty area fell to substitute Romeo Vermant around six yards out, with the striker somehow sending the ball over Slicker’s crossbar.

As the game entered its final stages, the Belgians fired numerous cross balls into the Scottish penalty box and they very nearly set up a nervy last couple of minutes.  

Firstly, Sylla crashed a header off the crossbar and then teammate Mbangula followed suit moments later with a curling right footed effort.

Despite a wave of second half pressure, the Scots stood up magnificently to the challenge, throwing bodies on the line when it mattered and showing a real cutting-edge that was worthy of winning any game. Gemmill was able to hand out three Under-21s debuts to Kai Fotheringham, Denholm, and Finlay Robertson – providing the icing on the cake as the Scots claimed three valuable points from The Nest.

Match Report by Mitchell Feggans

Next Up

Scotland Under-21s are in action again on Tuesday evening, when they face Hungary in Budapest in their final UEFA Under-21 EURO 2025 qualifier of the year.  

Teams

Scotland: Slicker, Devine, Anderson (Denholm, 15’) Bowat, Mullen, King, Barron, Neilson, Bowie (Fotheringham, 90+4’), Cameron, Doak (Robertson, 59’)

Unused Substitutes: Newman, Lowry, Mebude, Mellon, Ure, Angelini

Belgium: Vandevoort, Sardella, Spileers, Leysen, Siquet, Stroeykens (Vermant, 72’), Matazo (Kana, 65’), Engels, Olaigbe, Fofana (Mbangula, 65’), Sylla

Unused Substitutes: Stassin, Oyen, Lammens, Sandra, Van Den Bosch, Rommens