Youth Cup

Scotland Under-16s beat Turkey 2-0 in Russia

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Valerie Ivanov Tournament
Turkey 0-2 Scotland
Wednesday, August 22nd 2012
Krylya Sovetov Stadium, Moscow

McLaren 12, Spence 22

Scotland Under-16s sit top of their group tonight in the Valerie Ivanov Tournament after beating Turkey 2-0 in Moscow.
 

A 12th minute goal from Connor McLaren and 20th minute strike from Kyle Spence was enough to send the Scots into Friday’s match with Ukraine needing only a point to reach the final on Saturday.
 

Scotland dominated the first half in similar fashion to yesterday’s 1-0 win with Latvia.
 

McLaren broke forward after good passing in the midfield before unleashing an early strike which caught the Turkish keeper off guard.
 

The second goal came from a classic counter-attack through Ryan Kiltie who set up Spence for a 1v1 situation which he cooly dealt with.
 

Speaking from Russia, under-16 national team coach Mark Wotte said: “We played excellently in the first half.
 

“We passed well and scored two quick goals.
 

“We should really have capitalised on our dominance in the first half by scoring more goals.
 

“Turkey are a good footballing nation with many young people playing the game.
 

“To get a result against them is very encouraging.
 

“We made nine changes to the starting line-up and I was delighted with our central defenders Jack Breslin and Adam Hodge.
 

“Declan McKay made his debut in goal today and did very well.”
 

“If we get at least a draw on Friday, I think we will be playing Russia in the final on Saturday.”

The final match of the group is on Friday against Ukraine.

Scotland: MacKay, Wardrop, Hodge (Cpt), Breslin (Scott,75), McIlduff, Petrie, Kiltie (Thomson, 60), Caird, Spence (Nesbitt, 65), Pooler, McLaren (Boyd, 70)

Subs not used: McCrory, Kelly, Lafferty.