Young Scots hold out to round off campaign with share in Denmark

SCOTLAND Under-21s rounded off their European Championship qualifying campaign with a spirited but fortuitous 1-1 draw against a dangerous Denmark side in Vejle.

Scot Gemmill’s team were already well out of contention to make it to the finals next year.

The head coach made two changes to the side that secured an impressive goalless draw away to section winners Belgium on Sunday as the suspended Conor Barron and Elliot Anderson were replaced by Josh Mulligan and Stephen Kelly.

Denmark had the first attempt in the seventh minute when Maurits Kjaergaard saw an effort from 25 yards out tipped over by St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair.

Denmark almost went ahead a minute before the break but Isaksen saw a shot from eight yards out brilliantly saved by Sinclair’s legs.

Remarkably, the Scots went straight up the park and snatched the lead against the run of play in first-half stoppage time.

Mulligan powered forward and was contentiously awarded a free kick 25 yards out after he appeared to slip. Rangers midfielder Kelly took full advantage, as he stepped up and curled a stunning effort in off the underside of the bar.

Despite this setback, the Danes continued in the ascendancy and Rasmus Hojlund and Frederik Winther both went close in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The equaliser eventually came in the 70th minute when Kjaergaard drilled a brilliant low angled finish home from the edge of the box after running on to a Carstensen cutback.

The Danes piled on the pressure in the closing stages and a header from Mathias Kvistgaarden came back off the crossbar.

SPOTLIGHT on Tayside’s U/21 contingent – p27.

Stephen Kelly opened the scoring for the young Scots.