WAYWARD SCOTS MADE TO DEPAY
WASTEFUL Scotland were punished for failing to take their chances.
Memphis Depay grabbed the only goal of the game at Pittodrie, finishing off a lightning first-half counter-attack from the edge of the Holland penalty area. Malky Mackay’s men had started the brighter, and could have been two up in 11 minutes.
Matt Phillips had a shot blocked on seven minutes and when the rebound broke to James Forrest 10 yards out, he looked certain to score – only to be denied by a brilliant block from Nathan Ake. Four minutes later Phillips forced a good save from Jasper Cillessen.
The visitors had a lot of possession but no cutting edge until Callum McGregor’s wayward 40th-minute pass on the edge of the Holland box was quickly played forward for Ryan Babel.
He crossed and former Manchester United forward Depay (right) ended a lung-bursting 50-yard dash with a tap-in.
Kieran Tierney rescued Scotland by throwing himself in front of a close-range Kevin Strootman shot. McGregor then tested Cillessen and in the final minute Phillips was unmarked 10 yards out but his header barely made contact with the ball.