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

Defeat for Scotland U23 by Netherlands   

Scotland 0 Netherlands 4

It proved to be a challenging result for Scotland Under-23s in the Highlands, as they fell to a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Inverness.

The visitors went ahead through Liz Rijsbergen early on in the first half, before quickfire goals from Lynne Groenewegen and Rijsbergen’s second just after the hour mark had them 3-0 up. A Scotland own goal in the closing stages secured the 4-0 win for the Dutch in the friendly encounter.

Despite the defeat, it was another hard-working display from Michael McArdle’s side, and one performed in front of 1,042 fans, making it the highest attendance for a women’s game in Inverness.

After an even opening 10 minutes, it would be Scotland who fashioned the opening opportunity. It arrived when Rosie Livingstone won possession back down the right flank, before sending a dangerous cross into the box, which only just evaded a meaningful connection with the head of an awaiting Eilidh Adams.

Another effort came soon after for the hosts, this time from Tegan Bowie, who saw her curling strike almost catch out the Dutch goalkeeper, but instead it landed on the roof of the net.

But at the other end, the Netherlands would take the lead in the 17th minute through Rijsbergen. She was played in by Danique Tolhoek, and buried her strike into the right bottom corner.

We looked to reply within minutes, as Bowie whipped a delivery in to Adams, but the forward saw her header collected by goalkeeper Regina van Eijk.

Having gathered a couple of dangerous-looking balls into the box, Scotland goalkeeper Erin Clachers once again did well near the end of the first half when she was alert to come out and smother a through ball into the feet of Mirte van Koppen inside the area.

Inside the closing five minutes of the first half, another cross from Bowie was sent into the box, finding Livingstone, but she could not get the ball out of her feet to get a threatening strike away.

A Scotland corner was soon won and eventually worked its way back out to taker Lisa Forrest, who saw her lofted effort on the rebound collected in the air by the visiting goalkeeper.

In the second half, Scotland started brightly after changing formation, and a great chance was created when Michaela McAlonie found Livingstone down the right flank with a superb pass. She then swung the ball into the box, but it was cleared by the Dutch defence before it could find Forrest.

A corner was won, and in the second phase sent back into the area. The ball found the head of Georgia Hunter, but she saw her effort held by the Dutch goalkeeper.

The visitors’ first chance of the second half came as we approached 55 minutes, and it was Rijsbergen that looked to bag her second of the evening, but goalkeeper Clachers got herself behind the powerful shot.

It would be the Dutch who scored the next goal, as Groenewegen tapped the ball in from a couple of yards out, getting on the end of a van Koppen cross from the right.

It would be 3-0 as the Netherlands netted a quickfire double, and Rijsbergen secured her brace. She unleashed a curling strike from outside the box that had an outstretched Clachers beaten.

After the Dutch extended their lead, there had been few chances of note for either side, yet the visitors would get their fourth as Addie Handley’s header dropped into her own net inside the final 10 minutes.

Scotland went close to bagging a late consolation effort in injury time when Bayley Hutchison beat several defenders to burst into the box, with only the goalkeeper left to get past, but the Dutch custodian bravely smothered the ball at the forward’s feet to ensure a clean sheet for her side.

Scotland Under-23: Erin Clachers, Addie Handley (sub Jenna Penman 88mins), Charlotte Wardlaw, Kenzie Weir, Georgia Hunter (sub Megan Wearing 88mins), Eilidh Shore, Rosie Livingstone (sub Jasmine McQuade 85mins), Michaela McAlonie, Lisa Forrest (sub Hannah Jordan 72mins), Tegan Bowie (sub Monica Forsyth 86mins), Eilidh Adams (sub Bayley Hutchison 85mins).  

(scottishfa.co.uk)