Gemmill’s under-21s see off Kazakhstan in Paisley rout
Scotland Under-21
Kazakhstan Under-21
Scotland Under-21s kept themselves firmly in the mix for Euro 2025 qualification with a comfortable 4-1 win over Kazakhstan in Paisley.
Scot Gemmill’s side – buoyed by the return of several key players – laid the foundations for their victory with a clinical three-goal burst in the first half. The Scots have now won four and drawn one of their last five qualifiers and are locked together on the 13-point mark with Spain and Belgium at the top of Group B, although the Spaniards have a game in hand.
The loss of Liverpool winger Ben Doak to injury was offset by the return of Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, Bayern Munich defender Liam Morrison, Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston, Manchester City midfielder Lewis Fiorini and Bristol City forward Tommy Conway.
The hosts tested Kazakh keeper Temirlan Anarbekov twice in the opening quarter and then took the lead on 19 minutes. Connor Barron sliced his attempted shot from outside the box into the path of Doig on the left and the former Hibs and Verona fullback side-stepped his man before rasping a magnificent angled shot high into the net from 12 yards out.
Scotland doubled their advantage five minutes later when Lyall Cameron drilled a crisp low strike from the edge of the box after being teed up by Kieron Bowie.
Anarbekov was caught out in the 37th minute when he raced from his goal and fouled Conway as the striker tried to get on the end of a ball over the top from Leon King. Conway calmly sent Anarberkov the wrong way from the spot.
The hosts made it 4-0 ten minutes after the break when Conway’s low cross from the left was tucked away from six yards out by Fiorini. Kazakhstan got a goal back in the 67th minute when Yan Trufanov coolly chipped in a penalty after Ibane Bowat was deemed to have fouled substitute Danil Ankudinov, but the Scots saw the game out to leave themselves with all to play for ahead of their four remaining qualifiers in September and October.