The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Back to home page

Scotland off to winning start  

Luxembourg 0 Scotland 5 (Weir 9,37,62, Clark 27, McGovern 88)   

Scotland produced a dominant display to launch their 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Luxembourg in Esch-sur-Alzette on Tuesday evening.

Captain Caroline Weir marked her first match wearing the armband in an official capacity by scoring a superb hat-trick, with further goals from Jenna Clark and substitute Kathleen McGovern sealing a comfortable win for Melissa Andreatta's side against the group’s bottom seeds.Team selection

Head coach Melissa Andreatta made four changes from the side that started December’s friendly against China. Sandy MacIver returned in goal, while Emma Lawton, Miri Taylor and Maria McAneny came into the starting line-up. They replaced Eartha Cumings, Georgia Brown, Kirsty Howat and injured Kirsty MacLean, who was absent from the squad entirely. Celtic’s Maria McAneny earned her first Scotland start on her third cap, lining up alongside Erin Cuthbert in midfield. Weir partnered Kirsty Hanson in attack, making her return as the officially appointed national team captain.

Scotland began brightly, with Jenna Clark heading over from an early Erin Cuthbert corner. Emma Lawton then tested Luxembourg goalkeeper Lucie Schlime with a long range effort that was comfortably held.

The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute. Cuthbert’s corner caused chaos in the box, and after Weir’s initial right footed shot was blocked, she calmly finished with her left to open the scoring.

Schlime denied Scotland a quick second, first holding Miri Taylor’s shot after strong pressing, then bravely blocking Lawton’s one-on-one effort following Hanson’s clever pass. A potential third was ruled out for offside in the 25th minute when Lawton crossed for Hanson to tap in after a long ball from Clark.

Persistence paid off two minutes later, however. Cuthbert delivered another trademark set piece to the back post, where Clark rose to head across goal and past Schlime for a 2-0 lead. Scotland felt aggrieved not to win a penalty shortly after when Amal Cherkane challenged Freya Gregory late, but referee Kristina Georgieva waved play on. Gregory recovered quickly to set up Taylor, whose left footed strike was tipped wide by Schlime.

Weir then stepped up to curl a free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner in the 37th minute, leaving Schlime helpless as Scotland took a 3-0 half-time advantage.

The second half began more quietly, though chances continued to come. Weir’s free kick found Gregory at the back post, but she sliced wide. Another strong penalty shout followed when Hanson was bundled over by Andreia Machado, yet again dismissed by the referee.

Weir completed her hat-trick in style on 62 minutes. A lofted ball dropped for Cuthbert to drive on the half volley, and Weir diverted home from close range to make it 4-0 and cap a memorable captain’s debut.

MacIver was rarely troubled but produced a sharp save from Hannah Dietrich’s effort in the 71st minute – Luxembourg’s only shot on target all game.

Andreatta introduced Lauren Davidson, Kirsty Howat and Charlotte Newsham for the final quarter, replacing Lawton, Weir and Gregory. The changes nearly paid immediate dividends as Howat headed narrowly wide from Davidson’s cross.

Scotland rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute when McGovern latched onto Newsham’s lofted pass, controlled beautifully and finished with the outside of her right foot past Schlime.

Three further penalty appeals were turned down in added time, but the result was never in doubt as Scotland claimed a perfect start to their qualifying journey.

Luxembourg: Lucie Schlime, Emma Kremer, Amal Cherkane, Edina Kucan (sub Anna Miny 62 mins), Andreia Machado, Ana Barboa Abreu (sub Olivia Konsbruck 72mins), Laura Miller, Charlotte Schmit (sub Marta Estevez Garcia 83mins), Kimberley Dos Santos, Caroline Magalhaes (sub Rachel Kirps 83mins), Hannah Dietrich (sub Catarina Lavinas 72mins). Subs not used: Charlies Magalhaes, Joy Jung, Emma Goetz, Leticia Mateus, Rita Leite, Liane Freymann.

 

Scotland: Sandy MacIver, Nicola Docherty, Jenna Clark, Freya Gregory (sub Charlotte Newsham 74mins), Mia Taylor, Caroline Weir (sub Kirsty Howat 74mins), Kirsty Hanson (sub Kathleen McGovern 64mins), Rachel McLauchlan, Maria McAneny, Erin Cuthbert (sub Mia McAulay 89mins), Emma Lawton (sub Lauren Davidson 74mins). Subs not used: Lee Gibson, Eartha Cumings, Jodi McLeary, Sophie Howard, Leah Eddie, Georgia Brown, Amy Rodgers.