UEFA Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round: Group 5
Scotland 0-0 France
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk  

Scorers

Scotland 0

France 0 

Team News

Neil McFarlane made five changes to the side that triumphed 4-0 versus Lichtenstein on Saturday afternoon at Cappielow.

Rory Mahady, Mitchel Frame, Lennon Miller, Murray Campbell, and Josh Dede all came into the starting eleven. They replaced Sam Chambers, Bailey Rice, Rory MacLeod, Woody Williamson, and Leyton Grant. Lennon Miller captained the team on his return to the starting line-up after being rested on Saturday.

As It Happened

Rudi Allan-Molotnikov got proceedings underway for Scotland on a bitterly chilly night at the Falkirk Stadium after the match was moved from Forthbank due to adverse weather conditions.

Allan-Molotnikov and Scotland began strongly early on and within a minute had their first shot on goal. The Hibs attacker won the ball off the French defence before firing a left-footed shot high over the crossbar.

Scotland’s positive start continued when Alfie Bavidge won a free kick just inside the French half. Lennon Miller took the set-piece though despite a teasing ball into the box the ball trickled wide of Paul Argney’s post, and the offside flag was raised.

Scotland’s first shot on target came on 23 minutes. Colby Donovan picked out Ryan One inside the 18-yard box from a long throw on the right. The Sheffield United striker swivelled past his marker before unleashing a shot on his left foot that was well held by Le Havre goalkeeper Argney.

The hosts continued to control the match and had a good shout for a penalty waved away in the 35^th minute. Josh Dede on his return to the starting line-up seemed to be barged in the back robustly by Tidiane Diallo, though referee Menelaos Antoniou indicated play on.

Moments later, Scotland were inches away from taking a worthy lead. Bavidge managed to hold off his marker before slipping the ball through to Allan-Molotnikov. Allan-Molotnikov let fly from just inside the penalty area, forcing a great save from Argney to tip the winger’s shot over the crossbar keeping the scores level heading into the break.

Scotland would have been the happier of the two sides at half time after controlling possession and looking the more likely going forwards though it was France that began the second half the brighter of the two sides. Firstly, Yoram Zague found himself in space around twenty-five yards out, unleashing a shot well wide of target before Leeds goalkeeper Rory Mahady was called into action for the first time moments later. Leo Milliner fired a shot from ten yards looking to catch Mahady out at the near post, but the Scotland keeper stood firm to parry clear.

Minutes later Milliner was released in behind the Scotland defence before driving into the penalty box. The Caen winger’s run was well matched by on-loan Arbroath defender Dylan Smith forcing Milliner’s eventual shot into the side netting.

Scotland began to push further forward as the game went on as they searched for all three points though this in turn left the hosts more liable to conceding chances at the other end. Mathis Amougou came closest on 71 minutes when he was picked out just inside the penalty area. The midfielder did well to work the space for the shot, but he failed to find the finish as he sent the ball straight into the arms of Mahady.

Neil McFarlane made a host of changes in the forward areas late on as he attempted one last roll of the dice. France held firm and should have all but buried Scotland’s qualification hopes with just four minutes to go. The away side won a corner that substitute Daniel Cummings failed to clear once the ball was whipped in. The ball fell perfectly at the feet of Tidiam Gomis, but the Caen forward failed to connect properly, sending the ball well over Mahady’s crossbar.

Four minutes of time were added, and the hosts very nearly snatched all three points right at the death when Cummings connected excellently with a shot from close range, but Argney was equal to it to keep Scotland at bay.

Despite a monumental effort from Neil MacFarlane’s side over the course of the 90 minutes, including a first half where they were largely dominant in possession and chance creation, Scotland failed to find the all-important breakthrough and in doing so fail to qualify for the Elite Round of the UEFA Under-19 Championship, finishing third in Group 5 behind France and Wales.

Match Report by Mitchell Feggans.

Teams

Scotland: Mahady, Dede, Donovan, Smith, Borland (Ure 81’), Miller (Rice 68’), One, Molotnikov (MacLeod 81’), Frame, Campbell (Cummings 81’), Bavidge (Chambers 61’)

Unused Substitutes: Williamson, Grant, Watret, Sutherland

France: Argney, Zague, Sangui, Sanda, Amougou, Bamba, Tincres (Diliwidi 46’) (Messi 57’), Diallo (Gomis 46’), Gadou, Sylla (Cabral 90+2), Milliner (Bouneb 88’)

Unused Substitutes: Niflore, Methalle, Sadi, Kiwa,