Scotland beaten by Portugal in qualifier

Scotland’s women fell to their fourth defeat in five games with a 2-0 loss to Portugal in Larnaca.

A mistake led to Portugal’s opening goal in the first half before they sealed their victory in added time through Fatima Pinto for a second win over Scotland in European Championship Qualifying Group E.

Portugal took the lead in the 27th minute when goalkeeper Jenna Fife was put under pressure from a Rachel Corsie back pass, the shotstopper then tried to clear the ball but it rebounded off Ana Capeta and went into the back of the net.

The home side came close to an equaliser just before half-time when Martha Thomas was played in by Claire Emslie, but the 24-yearold was unable to get the decisive touch to take the ball past the goalkeeper.

Scotland put the pressure on in the second half, and limited Portugal’s opportunities with the ball but could not convert their possession into clear-cut chances.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Manchester City’s Caroline Weir had a corner punched away, with Jen Beattie heading wide from the second attempt after the ball was put back into the box.

In added time Beattie was unable to head clear, and the ball fell to Pinto who fired home for her side’s second.

Jim Weir knows how bitter the medicine tastes when you miss out on a cup final at St Johnstone.

And the former club captain is keeping his fingers crossed Murray Davidson doesn’t have to swallow a double dose.

Weir sat in bed at the Lilleshall rehabilitation centre with tears in his eyes as his Perth teammates thrashed Hearts in the League Cup semi-final of 1998, knowing there was no chance he would be fit for the final later that year.

Davidson was ruled out of Saints’ 2014 Scottish Cup triumph and is an injury doubt again ahead of Sunday’s trip to Hampden to face his old side Livingston.

And it would be a cruel twist of fate if history repeats itself.

“I really hope Murray recovers in time,” said Weir, who dedicated more than a decade of his career to the McDiarmid Park club as player and coach.

“With the service he’s given to St Johnstone and the career he’s had, he deserves to play in a cup final – especially having missed the last one.

“For me, I had snapped my Achilles at the end of the previous season in a game against Motherwell. I ended up being out for 11 months.

“I was doing some sort of training by the time the final came round, but I wasn’t near to playing a game so there was never any chance of me being fit.

“I was sat just behind the dugouts and was going crazy when Nick Dasovic scored his goal.

“The team played really well and were a bit unfortunate to lose it. We still went out that night and enjoyed ourselves as it was a big achievement getting to the final – but it’s obviously not the same when you lose.”

Cup semi-final night was a much more painful ordeal for Weir than cup final afternoon. “I sat listening to the Hearts match on the radio because they didn’t have it on the TV down in England,” he recalled.

“I’m not going to lie, I was in tears. It was tears of joy for the supporters and players, but there were also tears that I wasn’t part of such a big game. It was such a big deal for St Johnstone to get to a cup final.”

Weir described the Kemar Roofe tackle on Davidson in his last game against Rangers as “an absolute shocker”.

He added: “Murray’s not an angel. He’s a hard but honest player.

“That’s how I looked upon myself – I’d never go out to injure anybody but I’d look after myself. I’m sure Murray would’ve been very disappointed in himself if he had made that challenge. How some people can think there was nothing wrong with it is beyond me.”

Weir is optimistic about the Perth men’s chances at the weekend.

He said: “It will be a very difficult game, but I’m seeing the signs that St Johnstone can do it. I think they’ve got a great chance.”

Jim Weir, right, playing against Rangers in 1998.