SCOTLAND U20 1 BRAZIL IT’S TOU GOOD TO BE TRUE U20
Shock troops full of joy as Greg gives Brazilians taste of their own medicine
Brazil are famous for world-class full-backs but it was one of Scotland’s own who earned a first-ever win over the samba stars.
Kilmarnock’s Greg Taylor earned them a victory which kept their hopes of reaching the semi- finals of the Toulon Tournament alive.
Carlos Alberto, Cafu and Roberto Carlos are just three of the famous full-backs this crop are trying to follow.
And they would all have been proud of Taylor’s rocket shot just before the break which gave the Scots a famous victory.
The build-up was something you would have expected from the famous yellow shirts with Oliver Burke setting up Taylor who ran on to his lay off.
The win over the eight-time Toulon winners gives Scotland a chance of a semi-final spot ahead of their final Group C game against Indonesia on Tuesday.
Scot Gemmill’s men deserved their win as they bounced back from a 3-2 defeat by Czech Republic. Keeper Jack Ruddy didn’t have a serious save to make while Burke and Craig Wighton both squandered good first-half chances.
Scotland had never beaten Brazil at any level in 11 meetings and it is 19 years on Saturday since Craig Brown’s side kicked of the 1998 World Cup against the then reigning champions.
But as the two nations again locked horns on French soil the surroundings could hardly have di f ferent. Under- 20s boss Gemmill was an unused sub back then as 80,000 packed into the Stade de France in Paris.
This time there were only a handful of fans in the 17,000-seater Stade Parsemai, Group C game against Indonesia, despite going down 3-2 to Czech Republic in their opener.
Scotland have played Brazil at men’s senior level on 10 previous hhome off ex-FFrenchhLiLigue 1 clublb FC Istres, in Fos-sur-Mer.
Czech Republic had a 2-0 win over Indonesia in the earlier game meaning victory was a must for Scotland to have any hope of a last-four place.
Gemmill made four changes to his side with Reading’s Zak Jules and Celtic’s Aidan Nesbitt and Joe Thomson left out while the injured Scott Wright of Aberdeen has returned home.
Killie pair Adam Frizzell and Iain Wilson started along with Celtic’s Jamie McCart and Wighton of Dundee.
Brazil had an early chance but Juninho’s tame effort was straight at Ruddy.
Scotland then went on to dominate with Wighton and Burke both coming close before they took the lead after 41 occasions, including at four World Cups, but never won.
And after the victory in For-sur-Mer Gemmill minutesit withith a goal Brazil would have been proud of.
Ruben Sammut’s long ball found Burke on the left and the Red Bull Leipzig man shifted the ball to Taylor whose shot flew high into the net.
After the break the Scots continued to dominate with Burke a standout.
Gemmi ll made a double switch just after the hour with Ross McCrorie and Jordan Holsgrove on for Sammut and Kyle Magennis. Burke was also taken off in the latter stages.
Brazil had a penalty claim for handball before Scots sub Ryan Hardie missed a chance to make the game safe. said: “I’m so proud of them. To contain a team like Brazil was fantastic but we also created chances.
“It was such a mature performance.”