Friendly Match
Scotland 1-2 Iceland
Fir Park, Motherwell
Thursday, 17 November, 7pm

Scorers

Scotland 1: Johnston 30’

Iceland 2: Ingason 47’, 59’

Team news

There were six Under-21 debuts in the line up, with Jude Smith, Max Johnston, Liam Morrison, Ibane Bowat, Hayden Hackney and Alex Lowry all making their first appearances.

Ben Doak made his first start at this level while Connor Barron returned for his first Scotland appearance since June.

As it happened

The young Scots started the game brightly - cheered on by the 2128-strong crowd - and there were just two minutes on the clock when Connor Smith and Lowry combined on the left-hand side.

The latter floated a ball into the Iceland box which was cleared and almost perfectly met by Max Johnston who saw his half-volley sail just wide.

It was a sign of things to come as Scotland continued to threaten, and once again Lowry was involved as he switched the ball across to the on-rushing winger, Doak who found himself one-on-one with the Iceland goalkeeper Adam Ingi Benediktsson but his attempt was well saved.

With half an hour on the clock, the deadlock was broken as debutant Max Johnston picked the ball up on the right hand side where he played Doak down the same line.

Johnston continued his run into the box as Doak skipped past two defenders to pull the ball back to the right back who duly placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Once again Scotland used a switch of play to their advantage moments later, as Lowry again found Doak on the right-hand side pitting him against the goalkeeper but once again his attempt was foiled as his shot cannoned back off Benediktsson.

The keeper was called into action again after Tommy Conway broke free.

Displaying excellent strength to steal the ball from the Icelandic defence, he broke into the opposition box, with the visitors calling upon their keeper again as he saved Conway’s near post shot with his face.

While Scotland dominated the first half, the visitors came flying out of the traps in the second half.

Two minutes in, they were level, thanks to a goal from Kristall Mani Ingason, who found himself just outside Scotland’s 18-yard box.

His first attempt was blocked by a last-ditch tackle from Morrison though he made no mistake with his second attempt to draw Iceland level.

Just before the hour mark, Iceland took the lead, thanks to a penalty.

Scotland’s Hackney was robbed of possession outside his box and in a desperate attempt to retrieve the ball he was brought down Kristofer Jonsson as he bared down on goal leaving referee Graham Grainger no other option but to award a penalty.

With confidence running high from his side's first goal Ingason stepped up to place the ball into the bottom right corner sending Iceland into the lead.

As the second half went on, Scotland came back into the game, it looked like they had equalised when the ball fell to Connor McAvoy from a free kick, but with his shot seemingly goalbound he watched on in disbelief as it was cleared off the line.

Doak continued to cause issues for the Iceland defence, with 15 minutes to go he went by two defenders with ease though his inviting cross was not met by anyone as it trickled wide.

Unfortunately for Scot Gemmill’s side, the Iceland defence stood firm for the rest of the game and they saw out a 2-1 victory.

Match report by Alister Bean

Scotland line up

Scotland: J.Smith, Morrison, McAvoy, Hackney, Doak, Barron, Conway, C.Smith (Dickson-Peters 65’), Lowry (Meekison 65’), Johnston (Devine 76’), Bowat (Fraser 76’)

Unused substitutes: Long, Hogarth, Neilson