Jack attack as Aitchison heroics help the young Scots go double Dutch
Celtic starlet Jack Aitchison downed the Dutch with a second-half double to keep Scotland’s hopes of reaching the Euro Under-19s Finals very much alive. The young Scots bounced back in style after losing their opening game to hosts Germany and will top the group and qualify if they beat Norway in their final game on Tuesday and Germany fail to defeat the Dutch.
This was no fluke for Donald Park’s side in Arnsberg – they were well organised and had the better of the chances.
And it completed a Dutch double for Scotland after the Under-21s defeated Holland earlier this term in their Euro qualifiers.
The star of the show was Everton’s Fraser Hornby who was the best player on the park by a country mile.
It’s no wonder he is tipped for the top by Goodison Park coaches.
Aitchison will take the plaudits for his double but Scotland didn’t have a bad performer on show.
But the young Scots won’t have it easy against the Norwegians in Lippstadt – they thumped the Germans 5-2 yesterday after they themselves were battered by the Dutch 6-1 on the opening day.
A delighted Park said: “It was a very emotional win for us. We had a disappointing result against the Germans and we changed the team because we wanted to utilise the whole squad.
“We defended absolutely fantastically and scored two great goals.
“We deserved to win, there’s no doubt about it. The first half was very even but in the second half we deserved it because we created chances and scored two cracking goals from Jack.
“Everyone was superb. The back four were immense and they all worked their socks off in the team but big Fraser Hornby was terrific.
“We need to beat Norway and if the other game is a draw or the Dutch win then we qualify. And to be in this position when we are in the last game knowing that if we win against Norway we are in with a chance of qualifying is just great.
“But the Norwegians will be saying the same and they are a very good team as they showed by beating Germany so easily earlier.”
Park completely changed things around from their opening game – a 3-0 defeat to Germany.
Only Aidan Wilson, Aitchison, Hornby and Lewis Ferguson retained their place in the team from that defeat in Lippstadt and the young Scots certainly started as the better side with Rangers’ Glenn Middleton causing the Dutch problems.
But it took a hooked clearance on his own goal line from Celtic’s Robbie Deas to clear a goalbound header from Holland’s Cody Gakpo midway through the first half. The Scots were then denied the opener after Hornby cut back for Rangers ace Middleton, who saw his effort saved by PSV Eindhoven keeper Mike van de Meulehof.
Dutch captain Armando Obispo was lucky to escape with a booking just before the break when he scythed down Hamilton Accies kid Ferguson on the edge of the box.
But Hornby could only drive the resulting free-kick straight into the wall.
Early in the second half an intelligent lay-off from Hornby set up Middleton but the new Rangers signing’s attempted chip was too high.
Holland missed a great chance when PSV’s Zakaria Aboukhlal volleyed over with just Rangers keeper Aidan McAdams to beat.
Scotland took a richly deserved lead in the 65th minute after Hornby had shown his pace and power to burst through to feed Middleton. He teed up the onrushing Aitchison who slammed the ball into the top corner.
Scotland had to defend for their lives with captain Aidan Wilson and Celtic’s Stephen Welsh immense and they stunned Holland by doubling their advantage with nine minutes left.
Aitchison tapped in a rebound after Ferguson had a shot blocked to spark off Scottish celebrations.
The back four were immense and they all worked their socks off.”