Scotland 1-2 Sweden
Monday, 25 March 2019, kick-off 11:30am
Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain

Scotland Under-21s slipped to a narrow defeat against Sweden in the final fixture of their week in Spain. 

Barry Maguire's first goal for Scotland was enough to level the fixture briefly, but Rolan Nilsson's side proved just too strong at Marbella Football Centre.

Scot Gemmill made six changes from the side which drew with Mexico on Friday, calling Robby McCrorie, Sean Mackie, Jordan Holsgrove, Mikey Johnston, Iain Wilson and Ben House in to the starting eleven.

An it didn't take long for the Swede's to open the scoring, and in truth it was a bit slack from the Scottish youngsters. 

A whipped ball in to the box from Felix Beijmo found the unmarked Joel Asoro, who turned his free header in to the top corner from eight yards.

However, it sparked a response from Gemmill's players, who levelled midway through the first 45. 

Jordan Holsgrove sent a terrific freekick in to the box which fell kindly for Barry Maguire to stab home his first goal for Scotland. 

In truth, the Swede's deserved their half time lead, which they took through Sunderland's Benjamin Mbunga after some neat work down the right flank, 

It was Beijmo involved again, bursting through before squaring for his teammate to tap home. 

Gemmill made four changes at the break, replacing Sean Mackie, Daniel Harvie, Ben House and Jordan Holsgrove with Jake Hastie, Jamie Brandon, Patrick Reading and Fraser Hornby.

And in the 63rd minute, a controversial decision gifted Sweden a glorious chance to make it 3-1, when Brandon's interception found the hands of McCrorie in goals, resulting in an indirect freekick for a passback. 

From the resulting set-piece, Beijmo dragged his effort wide of the mark from ten yards. 

David Turnbull and Oli Shaw were introduced in the 73rd minute in place of Mikey Johnston and Ross McCrorie

Substitute Shaw nearly made the dream impact from the bench when, cutting in from the left flank on to his right foot, the Hibs youngster sent a low effort narrowly wide of the post from the edge of the box. 

However, the Swede's held on for a narrow victory at Marbella Football Centre, as Scot Gemmill's side drew a close to their trip to Spain. 

Scotland: Robby McCrorie (GK), Mackie, Maguire, Johnston, Harvie, Campbell, Johnston, House, Holsgrove, Ross McCrorie, Wilson 

Subs: Brandon, Reading, Hastie, Hornby (45), Turnbull, Shaw (73)

Unused subs: Doohan, Wright, Miller