Toulong way down
Scots babes can’t handle England’s Ed man as cup dream shattered
ENGLAND could afford to leave out some of their big guns.
But Scotland still couldn’t stop Arsenal sharp shooter Eddie Nketiah firing two goals to end their Toulon hopes.
Scot Gemmill’s side led at half-time in Aubagne thanks to a strike from one of our main weapons – Celtic hitkid Mikey Johnston.
But after the break England went on the attack and it was Gunners ace Nketiah who killed off Scotland.
The Auld Enemy, who dropped the likes of Tammy Abraham and Tom Davies to the bench, had initially levelled through Everton youngster Callum Connolly.
And then Nketiah’s deadly double blasted Aidy Boothroyd’s side into the final against Mexico on Saturday.
It was a crushing blow to the Scots who lit up the tournament at times during the group stage.
And afterwards, Johnston couldn’t even savour his wonder goal.
The dejected youngster said: “It was a decent goal but I’m just gutted about the result. When the dust settles I’ll probably look back and think it was a good moment.
“But right now, I’m disappointed to be out of the tournament.
“We have to be encouraged by what we’ve done this year.
“At this stage a year ago we didn’t lay a glove on England.
“It was night and day. We gave them much more of a game today so there’s positives to take out of it. We’re just really disappointed at the moment.”
Scotland went into the last-four clash as 5-1 underdogs against England who had their eye on a third Toulon trophy on the trot.
But after defeating France and South Korea in the group stage, Boothroyd certainly wouldn’t be taking the Scots lightly.
Gaffer Gemmill made two changes to the line-up that clinched their semi berth.
He alternated his keepers again, with Robby McCrorie replacing Ross Doohan between the sticks.
And on the left of his three-pronged attack he picked Celtic winger Johnston in favour of Rangers kid Glenn Middleton.
With a plethora of options, Boothroyd was confident enough to leave Premier League regulars Davies and Abraham on the bench.
The English would rely on skipper Lewis Cook – who already has a full cap – to orchestrate from midfield, with the pace of Adam Armstrong and Nketiah up front.
But despite having most of the ball in the first half it was Gemmill’s side who looked more potent on the counter.
And after 10 minutes Scotland’s talisman Oliver Burke almost opened the scoring.
Having notched the winner against the French and a goal of the tournament contender to beat South Korea the West Brom winger was full of confidence.
And he gave England a warning when he raced on to a Billy Gilmour pass leaving Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter in his wake.
He beat former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock loan keeper Freddie Woodman but his near-post effort cracked the woodwork.
It was an assured start from the Scots but they were reminded of England’s threat when Nketiah’s drive deflected on to the post off St Johnstone’s Jason Kerr.
Boothroyd’s team were playing the game in Scotland’s half but were vulnerable at the back and Johnston exploited it with a terrific goal.
The Parkhead youngster was fed by Iain Wilson on the flank and he drove at the English backline.
He waltzed past two defenders, skinned Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny for
pace, before rifling a shot past Woodman to continue Scotland’s streak of superb goals at Toulon.
The strike more than justified Johnston’s selection and gave the Scots the advantage at the break.
But Gemmill’s team, who were disrupted by Wilson going off at the interval, were slack early in the second half.
In one passage of play Johnston, Ryan Porteous and then sub Liam Burt all lost needless possession.
And they were punished when Nketiah got in behind and squared to Everton kid Connolly to score.
Gemmill, along with SFA performance director Malky Mackay on the bench, must have been frustrated by how easily they’d allowed England back into it.
And it got worse for them before 10 minutes of the second half were up.
Nketiah, who featured and scored for Arsenal’s first team last season, was now in the mood and jinked past Anthony Ralston on the edge of the box. He still had plenty to do but the Gunners youngster unleashed an unstoppable shot which flew past McCrorie into the top corner.
It was a nightmare opening to the half for Scotland where all their previous good work had been undone. And despite briefly getting a foothold in the game again, Gemmill’s side lacked the energy or cutting edge to level.
As they pushed for an equaliser it left gaps and Nketiah put the game to bed with 10 minutes left.
He collected a Cook pass and got past Ralston before burying it beyond McCrorie.
Scotland forced a half chance from Fraser Hornby near the end but it was too little too late and they now face a 3rd/4th place play-off against Turkey on Saturday.