UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying
Kazakhstan 3-2 Scotland
Tuesday, 15 October 2024
Almaty Ortalyk Stadion, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan 3 (Abdulla 30, Zhumakhanov 66 pen, Trufanov 74)

Scotland 2 (Miller 61, Mullen 85)

Team News

Scotland made two changes from the side who lost to Belgium at Tynecastle on Friday night. One change was enforced, with Connor Barron being called up to the senior squad. He was replaced in central midfield by Daniel Kelly, while Ryan One came in for Dire Mebude up front.

As it Happened

Scotland nearly got off to a dream start when a third minute free kick from Lennon Miller caused panic in the home defence and Jeremiah Mullen just failed to get a touch from close range.

And the young Scots came so close to taking a 13th minute lead when Lyall Cameron burst into the box and his low effort was touched onto the post by home keeper Temirlan Anarbekov at full stretch.

The young Scots were pretty much camped in the Kazakhstan half for much of the opening period, but were finding it tough to break down a home team who stuck everyone behind the ball.

And it was the home side who would take the lead just after half an hour in, as Galymzhan Kenzhebek drove down the left wing before teeing up Aibar Abdulla who drilled a low shot from the edge of the box out of the reach of keeper Lewis Budinauckas.

A free kick in first half injury time from an excellent position gave Scotland the chance to restore parity, but Miller's excellent effort cracked off the bar, via an impressive save from Anarbekov.

Scotland went close again within three minutes of the restart as Dane Murray's towering header from another Miller free-kick was again well saved by the Kazakhstan goalkeeper, while Murray's second attempt was blocked on the line Ivan Sviridov.

Scot Gemmill's side kept knocking at the door and Cameron had another gilt-edged chance on 55 minutes as he got on the end of substitute Dire Mebude's low centre but Anarbekov reacted sharply to block once again.

Scotland had stepped it up second half and deservedly got level on the hour mark. Jeremiah Mullen did well to release Max Johnston whose precise cutback was curled home superbly by Miller.

The young Motherwell midfielder was involved again minutes later as he cut the ball back to Mebude but the young forward slipped as he shot and his effort came back off the crossbar. 

The game looked to be heading Scotland's way but the tide turned on 65 minutes as Dane Murray was penalised for bringing down Sviridov who bore down on goal. Despite the foul appearing to be right on the edge of the box, referee Alan Kijas pointed to the spot and sent off defender Murray.

Kazakhstan's Adilbek Zhumakhanov stepped up and scored the penalty, leaving Scotland with it all to do.

Still Scotland pressed forward and Daniel Kelly almost nipped in to equalise instantly but goalkeeper Anarbekov smothered once again.

The home side made the most of their numerical advantage and extended their lead in the 74th minute as a precise finish from substitute Yan Trufanov made it 3-1. 

The ten-man Scots kept battling though and Mullen headed home Miller's corner with ten minutes to go to give Scotland some hope.

Gemmill's side did not give up and Anarbekov was forced to save again from Cameron from close range and from substitute Rob Apter from distance as the clock ticked towards 90. 

But it was not to be as Scotland finish third in Group B on 16 points, behind Spain and Belgium.

Teams

Scotland: Budinauckas, Johnston (Apter 62), Mullen, Murray, Neilson, Doig (Wilson 90), Miller, Kelly, Cameron, Mulligan, One (Mebude 46)

Unused subs: Milne, Thomson, Ramsay, Newman, Johnson, Fraser

Next Up

This match represents the final match for the '2002' generation of Under-21 players, while a series of friendlies will be arranged for the next group, ahead of their qualifiers which will begin in the latter stages of 2025.