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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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Scotland hold on to beat China

Scotland 3 China 2

Scotland ended their international year on a winning note when three goals in the opening fifteen minutes saw them to what

was eventually a hard earned 3-2 victory against Asian champions China.

Melissa Andreatta made five changes to the side that faced Ukraine last time out. Sandy MacIver, Amy Muir, Sophie Howard, Caroline Weir

and Martha Thomas all dropped out – with Eartha Cumings, Jenna Clark, Kirsty Howat, Georgia Brown and Miri Taylor being drafted in as their

replacements. Erin Cuthbert took the captain’s armband for this one in the absence of Caroline Weir from the matchday squad, with Georgia Brown making her first Scotland start.

The Scots started positively against the Asian Cup winners, with Kirsty Hanson playing a nice one-two with Freya Gregory who fired across goal before the China defence managed to clear for a corner kick. From the corner, Nicola Docherty registered the game’s first shot with a looping effort that was comfortably held by Yu.

Scotland would break the deadlock in the 11th minute, when Kirsty Howat’s pressure forced an error from Dou Jiaxing and with the angle seemingly too tight for a shot, Howat managed to lob the goalkeeper with the ball soaring into the far corner of the net.

The Scots endured a dream start to the match in Jerez, adding a second and then a third in quick succession. Howat was involved once more, combining well with Hanson to allow the Aston Villa midfielder to slot home for two nil.

Less than a minute later, directly from the restart, Howat spotted Yu off her line from just outside the centre circle before executing her effort magnificently to net her second and Scotland’s third of the evening.

Melissa Andreatta’s side continued to apply the pressure even after their stellar start. Hanson forced a smart save from Yu with a rasping right footed effort after she was picked out on the edge of the box by stand-in skipper, Erin Cuthbert.

China pulled a goal back just shy of the half hour, punishing Scotland for several failed attempts to clear the danger. Zhang Xin’s recycled cross fell at the feet of Chengshu who laid the ball on a plate for Zhang Linyan to swivel nicely and fire past Eartha Cumings, reducing the Scots’ lead to two.

Scotland were awarded a penalty early in the second period when Cuthbert’s bustling run into the area was stopped illegally by Wu Haiyan. Kirsty Howat, on a hat-trick, stepped up to take the spot kick though her initial effort was saved onto the post by Yu, before the midfielder’s attempt from the rebound looped over the bar.

China’s growing confidence showed on the hour mark as they reduced the deficit to one, with Chengshu heading home from a Linyan cross leaving Cumings with no chance in the Scotland goal.

The Scots were given a huge let off in the 74th minute as Linyan’s ball from the left fell to Huo Yuexin at the far post, with the substitute failing to connect with her effort, sending the ball out for a goal kick.

China were throwing everything at Scotland, with Haiyan being picked out from a corner, though, with a free header, the defender headed wide of target.  

There was concern for Scotland late on as captain for the night Erin Cuthbert was forced off on a stretcher because of a nasty head knock, being replaced by Mia McAneny for the game’s closing exchanges.

Despite a late flurry of China pressure, the Scotland defence held firm to claim a well earned victory in their final match of 2025 ahead of the beginning of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers next spring.

Scotland: Eartha Cumings, Nicola Docherty, Jenna Clark, Kirsty MacLean (sub Amy Muir 79mins), Freya Gregory, Kirsty Hanson (sub Lauren Davidson 79mins), Kirsty Howat (sub Martha Thomas 61mins), Rachel McLauchlan (sub Emma Lawton 85mins), Georgia Brown, Miri Taylor (sub Chelsea Cornet 61mins), Erin Cuthbert (sub Maria McAneny 90mins). Subs not used: Lee Gibson, Sophie Howard, Leah Eddie, Mia McAulay.  

China PR: Yu Zhu, Dou Jiaxing (sub Zhang Rui 45mins), Haiyan Wu, Zhang Xin (sub Huo Yuexin 65mins), Yao Wei, Shen Mengyu (sub Aifang Wang 45mins), Li Mengwen, Linyan Zhang (sub Wang Yanwen 80mins), Ziqin Shao (sub Wurigumula 80mins), Chen Qiaozhu, Wu Chengshu (sub Kun Jin 71mins). Subs not used: Wang Linlin, Sun Fangxin, Jing Liu, Jiali Tang, Pan Hongyan, Lv Yatong, Liu Yanqiu.  

(scottishfa.co.uk)