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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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Scotland Under-19 end group unbeaten

A 4-1 victory over Croatia means that Scotland finished their qualifying group in the UEFA Euro Under-19 Championship
with an unbeaten record.

After Saturday’s 2-1 win against the Netherlands, Gary Doctor made one change with Neve McDonald replacing Abigail Tobin in the starting line up. Laura Berry took the armband, looking to add to her goal tally.

Scotland started brightly, straight from kick off Jess Husband was played through by Laura Berry before having a shot a deflected into the path of Sophia Martin. Her effort from the edge of the box went straight into the arms of Nika Radolovic in the Croatian goal.

From the off, Izzy Young looked bright in the press. Her pace and trickery caused problems down the right-hand side for the away side. Along with Berry and Martin both having efforts go narrowly off target, it was an eventful opening to the match.

Croatia looked to have broken the deadlock after six minutes. Laura Perkovic played a defence splitting pass to the influential Antonela Grgic, who knocked the ball past Braelynn Galt but was quickly adjudged to be offside.

Neve McDonald continued to use her pace down the left hand side, with the Croatians struggling to deal with her and it was not long before Mia Pestic was booked for a professional foul.

The visitors looked quick on the counter and an error from Erin Husband allowed Grgic a shot at goal, this was followed up by a double save from Galt who tipped the ball wide for a corner. The ball was swung in by Luana Vanjak and met by the head of skipper Valentina Akrap who bulleted past Galt and put the Croatians one nil up.

Pestic did well to shrug of challenges from Sophie Black and Sophia Martin before dragging her shot wide, in one of the rare Croatian chances in the game.

Jess Husband and Izzy Young continued to link up well down the right-hand side. Finding Berry and Martin in good areas but neither could find the back of the net.

The Croatians looked quick on the counter through Grgic and Laura Perkovic, but the Scotland defence stood resolute to keep Galt’s job quiet.

The hosts formed a counter of their own after gaining possession through Berry from a Croatia free kick. She played a 1-2 with McDonald but couldn’t find the connection she was looking for, and the ball was smothered by Radolovic.

McDonald skipped by Lana Ciglevic after a strong defensive header from Erin Husband and she evaded another challenge on the edge of the box before sending her shot over the bar as the half drew to a close.

Gary Doctor made two half time changes with Abigail Tobin and Sophie Townsley replacing Ashley Robertson and Neve McDonald. This saw Lily Boyce move into the middle of the park, with Tobin going to left back.

Scotland started the second half well, Laura Berry with a great touch to send Izzy Young through on goal but her shot was collected by the goalkeeper.

This was quickly followed by Townsley’s header being straight at the keeper after good work from Jess Husband on the right-hand side to work space for the cross.

In Croatia’s only clear-cut chance of the half, a through ball from Pestic released Grgic, who’s cross was well defended by Erin Husband not once but twice as the defender cleared the danger.

A penalty claim for handball from the away side was waved away as the game continued to be end to end.

Sophie Black who grew into the game in the second half, played a neat ball to Jess Husband whose cross fell to Abigail Tobin at the edge of the box and her shot crashed off the crossbar. However, Berry was there to follow up and bundled the ball home to make it 3 goals in 3 games to level the game. No less than the home side deserved.

Doctor turned to his bench again with Olivia Chomczuk replacing Sophia Martin for the remainder of the half. Boyce, who really came into her own, dictating the middle of the park found Black after some nice footwork. The midfielder then picked out Berry in the box, with the striker producing a fine finish to put her side 2-1 up.

Jess Husband who was a threat down the right-hand side all game, burst away from her marker, before digging out a cross that Izzy Young managed to force in. The home side were now 3-1 up.

With Scotland now in full flow, the changes certainly had the impact Gary Doctor would have wanted. Abigail Tobin providing a bright spark down the left hand side and produced driving runs going forward. She was eventually fouled by Lana Kozdul who went into the referee’s book.

Laura Berry turned provider after steering a cross into the path of Olivia Chomczuk to slot home and make it 4-1.

Cara Gray and Lucie Burns entered the fray for the final minutes, replacing Sophie Black and Izzy Young respectively. A flurry of Scotland corners in the dying minutes resulted in Berry and Chomczuk see efforts blocked by the resilient Croatian defence before the ball was deemed to hit a Croatian hand and a penalty was awarded.

Unknowingly, one more goal would have seen the hosts top the group, having come in as third seeds but as Berry stepped up, she saw her effort saved by Radolovic and the referee blew for full time.

Scotland Under-19: Braelynn Galt, Jessica Husband, Erin Husband, Ella West, Ashley Robertson (sub Abigail Tobin 45mins), Sophie Black (sub Cara Gray 82mins), Laura Berry, Sophia Martin (sub Olivia Chomczuk 62mins), Lily Boyce, Neve McDonald (sub Sophie Townsley 45mins), Izzy Young (sub Lucie Burns 90mins). Subs not used: Emma Thomson, Kate Fraser, Mia McArthur, Sienna McGoldrick.

(scottishfa.co.uk)   

  

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