Scots crash in Kiev to end Euro dream
LEWIS MORGAN’S quickfire opener counted for nothing last night as Ukraine took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Robby McCrorie to send Scotland crashing out of the European qualifiers.
Scot Gemmill’s side needed to win at the Obolon Stadium to be in with a chance of reaching the play-offs and it was looking good when the Celtic midfielder got them off to the perfect start after just 53 seconds.
But the young Scots were made to pay for missing a series of decent first-half chances when Oleksandr Zubkov equalised with a deflected effort.
Ukraine were transformed by that leveller after half-time and took the lead when McCrorie fumbled a long-range shot by Zubkov into the net for his second goal of the game.
When Viktor Kovalenko netted in stoppage time, it sealed a depressing week for Scottish football after the senior side’s defeat in Israel.
Gemmill’s team now face group winners England in their final game at Tynecastle on Tuesday with only pride on the line.
Despite last night’s defeat extending Scotland’s long run of not qualifying for an Under-21s finals since 1996, Gemmill pointed out the progress his youngsters have made — while backing McCrorie to bounce back from his mistake.
‘I’m satisfied we made a huge improvement in our performance if you compare the game in Scotland (a 2-0 defeat to Ukraine) with that,’ he said. ‘But, of course, we are disappointed to lose.
‘We had chances that would have changed the pattern of the game. Those key moments are the challenge to young players — being able to take those chances at key moments. We felt we were a real threat at set pieces.
‘There was definitely a reaction to Ukraine’s goals and the players allowed their disappointment to affect them, for sure.
‘With Robby, it’s the life of a goalie, isn’t it? He’s handled it before and reacted in the right manner and you have to remember how important he’s been for us.
‘At Under-17s, 19s and 21s he’s made some big saves for us. Against France at the Toulon Tournament, and Holland away in the last game, he made some great saves. He will be able to handle it maturely.
‘The big thing for me is the young players in the squad — over ten of them can play again in the next campaign. We feel the performances are getting stronger.’
Scotland got off a stunning start when they took their early lead. Ayr United full-back Liam Smith picked out Eamonn Brophy with a superb defence-splitting pass and the Kilmarnock striker squared to the onrushing Morgan, who finished in style.
Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous nearly extended the lead when his header from a Stevie Mallan corner was headed off the line by Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Scotland came close to adding a second in the 27th minute, but this time Porteous was denied by a fine save from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
It was a shock when the hosts levelled with their first real attack of note in the 32nd minute after a shot from Zubkov took a slight deflection off Porteous past Rangers youngster McCrorie.
Ukraine were then gifted the lead in the 56th minute after a howler from McCrorie. Zubkov hit a speculative effort from 30 yards but McCrorie could only fumble the ball into his own net.
Scotland were killed off with the last kick of the ball when Kovalenko scored.
Morgan agreed with his manager after the game that there would be no blame attached to McCrorie.
He said: ‘We all stand behind Robby. I’ve never been a goalkeeper and have never been in that situation, so I don’t know if he was unsighted or the ball swerved.
‘He made a couple of good saves in the game and maybe he will say he could have done better with the second goal. He needs to put it to the back of his mind.
‘We started very well. I have never scored a faster goal in my career but it means little now.’
SCOTLAND (4-2-3-1): Robby McCrorie; Smith, Bates, Porteous, Taylor; Mallan, Ross McCrorie; Cadden, Campbell (Gilmour 90), Morgan; Brophy (Middleton 68).
Subs not used: Doohan, McIntyre, Shaw, Watt, Williamson.