Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sorry Scots draw a blank in opener
SCOTLAND Women started their qualification campaign for Euro 2025 in frustrating fashion with a goal-less draw in Serbia.
A game low on genuine moments of quality will pass as a missed opportunity for the Scots, who struggled to carry much of a goal threat in Leskovac.
It is now just one win in nine matches for Scotland, with that coming at the Pinatar Cup in February against the Philippines.
The Scots were pursuing their first competitive victory since October 2022, with an underwhelming Nations League campaign – albeit against higher-ranked opposition in Netherlands, England and Belgium – falling flat.
Manager Pedro Martinez Losa was forced into an early change between the posts, with goalkeeper Sandy MacIver appearing to suffer a knee injury while claiming an innocuous high ball. Lee Gibson took her place.
Possession was controlled by the visitors but Chelsea Cornet and Erin Cuthbert were guilty of some wasteful deliveries.
It was Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert who provided the first shot at goal, with Lauren Davidson picking her out at the edge of the area and, while her effort was struck well, Milica Kostic in the Serbia goal pushed it wide.
Sophie Howard’s header from the resulting corner was a comfortable gather for Kostic.
Serbia appealed half-heartedly for a goal after the half-hour mark, with Tijana Filipovic’s deflected cross dropped by Gibson close to the goal-line, but no decision was forthcoming.
Filipovic was involved again shortly after, utilising a wellworked corner to stand the ball up to the back post for Andjela Krstic, who headed straight at Gibson.
The hosts continued to target the replacement Scotland keeper from set-pieces, with Allegra Poljak flashing a corner into the six-yard box and, with Gibson missing the ball, Violeta Slovic was unable to get a connection to turn it home.
Poljak was denied a clear sight of goal deep into first-half stoppagetime by Nicola Docherty’s timely intervention.
Veteran striker Jane Ross was brought on at half-time for Davidson and was immediately involved, hitting the bar from the edge of the box.
For the unconvincing moments Gibson had, Scotland had her to thank for keeping the scores level just after the hour.
Jovana Damjanovic had been sent clear and ought to have done better with her effort – a prod goalwards lacking in power – but
Gibson still had to get down to block. A Scotland side missing regular forwards Martha Thomas and Kirsty Hanson were shy of attacking impetus, with Cuthbert often turned to for inspiration.
She did threaten to break the deadlock with 15 minutes to go, clipping Fiona Brown’s cutback towards the far corner but replacement keeper Sara Cetinja turned it past the post.
Howard passed up a great chance to snatch all three points at the back post. However, the centreback got her bearings wrong from a Cuthbert corner and sent the ball back across goal.
The Scots are back in action at Hampden Park on Tuesday night, where Aberdonian Rachel Corsie could win her 150th cap at home to Slovakia.