International Friendly
Scotland 0-4 Netherlands
Monday, 2 March 2026
Sarens PSG Stadium, Inverness

Scorers

Scotland 0

Netherlands 4 (Liz Rijsbergen 17’, 64’, Lynne Groenewegen 62’, Addie Handley OG 82’)

As It Happened

It proved to be a challenging result for Scotland Under-23s in the Highlands, as they fell to a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Inverness.

The visitors went ahead through Liz Rijsbergen early on in the first half, before quickfire goals from Lynne Groenewegen and Rijsbergen’s second just after the hour mark had them 3-0 up. A Scotland own goal in the closing stages secured the 4-0 win for the Dutch in the friendly encounter.

Despite the defeat, it was another hard-working display from Michael McArdle’s side, and one performed in front of 1,042 fans, making it the highest attendance for a women’s game in Inverness.

After an even opening 10 minutes, it would be Scotland who fashioned the opening opportunity. It arrived when Rosie Livingstone won possession back down the right flank, before sending a dangerous cross into the box, which only just evaded a meaningful connection with the head of an awaiting Eilidh Adams.

Another effort came soon after for the hosts, this time from Tegan Bowie, who saw her curling strike almost catch out the Dutch goalkeeper, but instead it landed on the roof of the net.

But at the other end, the Netherlands would take the lead in the 17th minute through Rijsbergen. She was played in by Danique Tolhoek, and buried her strike into the right bottom corner.

We looked to reply within minutes, as Bowie whipped a delivery in to Adams, but the forward saw her header collected by goalkeeper Regina van Eijk.

Having gathered a couple of dangerous-looking balls into the box, Scotland goalkeeper Erin Clachers once again did well near the end of the first half when she was alert to come out and smother a through ball into the feet of Mirte van Koppen inside the area.

Inside the closing five minutes of the first half, another cross from Bowie was sent into the box, finding Livingstone, but she could not get the ball out of her feet to get a threatening strike away.

A Scotland corner was soon won and eventually worked its way back out to taker Lisa Forrest, who saw her lofted effort on the rebound collected in the air by the visiting goalkeeper.

In the second half, Scotland started brightly after changing formation, and a great chance was created when Michaela McAlonie found Livingstone down the right flank with a superb pass. She then swung the ball into the box, but it was cleared by the Dutch defence before it could find Forrest.

A corner was won, and in the second phase sent back into the area. The ball found the head of Georgia Hunter, but she saw her effort held by the Dutch goalkeeper.

The visitors’ first chance of the second half came as we approached 55 minutes, and it was Rijsbergen that looked to bag her second of the evening, but goalkeeper Clachers got herself behind the powerful shot.

And it would be the Dutch who scored the next goal, as Groenewegen tapped the ball in from a couple of yards out, getting on the end of a van Koppen cross from the right.

It would be 3-0 as the Netherlands netted a quickfire double, and Rijsbergen secured her brace. She unleashed a curling strike from outside the box that had an outstretched Clachers beaten.

After the Dutch extended their lead, there had been few chances of note for either side, yet the visitors would get their fourth as Addie Handley’s header dropped into her own net inside the final 10 minutes.

Scotland went close to bagging a late consolation effort in injury time when Bayley Hutchison beat several defenders to burst into the box, with only the goalkeeper left to get past, but the Dutch custodian bravely smothered the ball at the forward’s feet to ensure a clean sheet for her side.

Scotland Team

Scotland: Erin Clachers (GK), Addie Handley (Jenna Penman 88’), Charlotte Wardlaw, Kenzie Weir, Georgia Hunter (Megan Wearing 88’), Eilidh Shore (C), Rosie Livingstone (Jasmine McQuade 85’), Michaela McAlonie, Lisa Forrest (Hannah Jordan 72’), Tegan Bowie (Monica Forsyth 86’), Eilidh Adams (Bayley Hutchison 85’)

Unused Substitutes: Lisa Rodgers (GK)

Post-Match Thoughts

Scotland U-23s Head Coach Michael McArdle said: “We’re delighted with the opportunity to play the Netherlands first and foremost. We know these opportunities are providing a tough opponent, and that’s exactly what we’ve designed the programme for – to play the top nations in the world.

“I’m delighted for the girls, and a lot of them individually as well, with some of the performances that will allow them to take that next step forward.

“Results-wise, you want better results, but certainly there were some individual performances out there that are quite exciting.

“It’s a development period. It’s about bridging the gap to the national team. These are the nations we need to stress ourselves against to add that extra bit, so it adds that extra bit for when the players make that step up to the A Squad, which we’ve had a lot do recently.”

On playing in Inverness in front of a record crowd for a women’s match, McArdle said: “Our game is growing, and we also need to inspire.

“The big piece here is the role models that the girls have been out on the pitch today, and knowing the work that the clubs, particularly the grassroots clubs, are doing in the north.

“With our centres now, we’re seeing a real difference in the depth of quality that is coming through, so it’s a really exciting period of time ahead. Hopefully, once the national team gets to the World Cup and qualifies, these young girls will filter into the pipeline, as well.”

Match report by Sophie Goodwin