Scots fail to make their Port of call
PORTUGAL.... SCOTLAND......
SCOTLAND’S hopes of making a third successive tournament are hanging by a thread after they went down narrowly in their crucial Women’s European Championship qualifier last night.
It now looks impossible for them to win Group E – and their best chance may be to finish second and get a play-off place.
Scots No. 2 Andy Thomson said: “We always knew it was going to be a tough game against well organised opposition.
“The players gave us their all but we have to be ruthless. Silly, stupid goals cost us and you can’t hide from that. You need to do better in terms of how you defend the box.” Scotland made six changes to the side which lost to Finland in Helsinki last month.
There were returns for Arsenal trio Jen Beattie, Kim Little and Lisa Evans.
Beattie, with an early header wide, and Erin Cuthbert with a shot, of f e red some early encouragement.
But it was the home side who grew in confidence as Scotland failed to maintain their promising early start.
Lee Alexander had to make saves from Diana Silva and Ana Borges as Portugal found ways to get behind the defence.
At the other end, Little fired her side’s best attempt over.
Alexander stopped a shot from Silva but the ball spilled from her hands and Claudia Neto just failed to get the vital touch.
The Glasgow City keeper again needed two attempts to hold a Neto shot at the start of the second half.
The killer goal arrived in 69 minutes, Borges taking a pass from Tatiano Pinto and slipping the ball under Alexander.
Scotland almost levelled when Evans found sub Martha Thomas but Patricia Morais blocked the striker’s shot before Beattie missed another great chance late on.