Stark thrilled by five-star young Scots
Billy Stark was thrilled at how Scotland shrugged off battling Kazakhstan 5-2 in their UEFA Under-19 qualifier.
Late goals from Manchester City starlets Josh Adam and Dire Mebude finally saw Scotland draw clear and grab the goals their play merited.
Stark pinpointed the second of Robbie Ure’s goals on 63 minutes as crucial.
The Rangers forward struck immediately after Kazakhstan equalised for 2-2.
Stark said: “When we lost the second goal it could’ve been catastrophic. It was important Robbie got that one quickly.
“We reacted well, I’m absolutely delighted with them. We had an electric start, should’ve been three up and I think they thought everything would fall into place.
“We got slack and pedestrian and didn’t really play for 20 minutes. But we got it together and, in terms of creating a threat, this is as good a squad as I’ve had.”
Mebude sparked Scotland into a fifth-minute lead, with a mazy burst and backheel into the box.
Two efforts were blocked before Ure tucked in the rebound.
Kazakhstan were level before the half-hour through Yan Trufanov’s powerful header.
Scotland regained the lead before the break. Adam was superb changing the direction of play, gliding past three men to tee up Matthew Anderson. His drive took a heavy touch off a defender to loop in over the keeper.
Sultan Askarov’s deflected drive saw the Kazakhs hit back for the second time on 62 minutes.
Ure calmed the nerves, converting on the slide from a Jack Harkness cross.
Scotland’s City slickers put the game to bed. Mebude’s through ball was clipped in by Adam.
In injury-time, a fierce Mebude shot squirmed away from the keeper’s grasp and over the line.
France beat Iceland 2-0 at Cappielow. Scotland now face France on Tuesday needing to better Iceland’s result against Kazakhstan to qualify.