Young Scots outfought by Auld Enemy in Toulon
DEJA VU FOR GEMMILL’S KIDS
MIKEY Johnston’s sublime strike gave Scotland a shock lead in last night’s semi-final of the Toloun Tournament before a second-half retreat saw the Auld Enemy defeat Scot Gemmill’s men for the second year in a row at this stage.
It had all looked so promising when the Celtic youngster’s magnificent solo effort put the Scots in front after captain Oliver Burke had earlier hit the post in Aubagne.
But just when Gemmill’s Under-21s were dreaming of reaching the nation’s first final here in the competition’s 51-year history, they collapsed after the break, following an onslaught by Aidy Boothroyd’s side.
Defending champions England netted twice within a five-minute spell before sealing matters late on as Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah scored an impressive double.
Scotland’s rope-a-dope tactics had worked against hosts France after taking an early lead, but the English attack were simply too good after the interval.
It means England now go for their third win in a row on Saturday against Mexico, while the Scots face Turkey in the third place play-off.
Gemmill stuck to his rotation policy with the goalkeepers as Rangers’ Robby McCrorie was given the nod over Celtic’s Ross Doohan. Scorer Johnston, who was rested in the win over South Korea, came in for Rangers winger Glenn Middleton.
Watched by new Derby County boss Frank Lampard — who may also have had one eye on Scotland’s Chelsea kid Billy Gilmour — England could afford to leave Tom Davies of Everton and Gilmour’s Blues team-mate Tammy Abraham on the bench.
But it was Scotland who threatened first when Johnston curled a short free-kick over the bar in the fourth minute.
And they twice came close within the space of a minute. Everton striker Fraser Hornby swept the ball wide to Kilmarnock defender Greg Taylor out left. His cross was stabbed towards goal by Hornby, but it was blocked and the ball just did not sit up for Johnston, who was waiting to poke home the rebound.
A clipped pass over the top from Gilmour then saw Burke skilfully collect the ball and race past Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter before cracking an angled shot against the post. SFA performance director Malky Mackay’s vocal ‘encouragement’ from the bench saw him warned by the Mexican referee after just 12 minutes.
Mackay almost had another reason to be unhappy when England hit the post after a cross from Nketiah took a slight deflection off St Johnstone’s Jason Kerr.
Scotland were being urged to press England at all times and it was working, with their rivals forced into uncharacteristic errors as passes floated off target. But Boothroyd’s side started to threaten more as the half progressed and Everton’s Kieran Dowell went close with a header. However, the Scots drew first blood with a goal which could be added to their selection of stunners from this year’s tournament.
There seemed little danger when Johnston collected Iain Wilson’s pass on the left wing. But he deftly slalomed his way past two English defenders into the box where he still had Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny in front of him. He beat him for pace before whipping in a brilliant shot, which fizzed beyond former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock loan keeper Freddie Woodman.
It was a brilliant strike and right up there with Burke’s sensational 70-yard run and goal against South Korea last Saturday.
England’s Ronaldo Vieira and Scotland’s Ryan Porteous then squared up after the Hibs defender took umbrage at some rough treatment being dished out to Burke.
But the referee was content to just have a word with each player and Scotland went in at the break with a deserved lead, certainly on chances.
They braced themselves for an English onslaught after the break — and it came quickly. Just five minutes after the restart, they were back level.
Chelsea’s Jay Dasilva was given cheap possession after a mistake by Rangers midfielder Liam Burt — and Nketiah teed up Everton’s Callum Connolly, who could not miss.
Things got worse five minutes later when Nketiah skipped past Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston before curling a superb shot past McCrorie into the corner of the net.
Scotland retreated deeper and deeper and were inviting pressure.
It was all over with 11 minutes remaining when Nketiah claimed his second goal of the night after he burst through and coolly finished past McCrorie.