UEFA Under-21 European Qualifier
Scotland 1-0 Gibraltar
Thursday 9 October 2025
Dens Park, Dundee
Scotland 12 (Lawrence x 4, Mebude, Gonzalez (OG), Wilson x 3, Ure, Thomson, Mullen)
Gibraltar 0
Team News
It was a strong looking Scotland line-up, with a front three featuring Dire Mebude, Emilio Lawrence and James Wilson leading the line. Kristi Montgomery, David Watson and Kyle Ure marshalled the midfield, and a back four of Matthew Anderson, Luke Graham, Jeremiah Mullen and Colby Donovan lined up in front of Ruaridh Adams.
David Watson continued with the captain’s armband as Scotland kicked off at Dens Park.
As It Happened
Scotland started on the front foot, as Emilio Lawrence met Colby Donovan’s cross to give the Young Team the lead after just two minutes, tapping home unmarked at the back post from the edge of the six-yard box.
Scotland continued to press home their advantage through the first half, knocking the ball around well, with Lawrence, Anderson, Donovan and Mebude exploiting the wide areas to probe at the Gibraltan defence.
Dire Mebude was next on the scoresheet as he tormented the visitors back-line, skipping past two before lashing one past the goalkeeper from a tight angle to make it 2-0 on 21 minutes.
It was three in 26 minutes as Emilio Lawrence picked up the ball on the edge of the Gibraltar box and curled one past the despairing goalkeeper into the corner. Just minutes later, it was four as Colby Donovan burst through the 18 yard box, whipping a cross that the Gonzalez in the Gibraltan defence could do nothing about, tipping it past his own keeper.
A rampant Scotland made it five just one minute later as James Wilson tucked one past the advancing goalkeeper after a teasing ball from Mebude.
The crowd could barely keep up with the goal as James Wilson added a second to his tally after tapping home a David Watson cross to make it six.
Kyle Ure made it a magnificent seven, netting with just 32 minutes gone, stepping on to a bouncing ball, rifling it goalwards, with a wicked deflection giving the keeper no chance.
It was all hands-on deck in the Gibraltar defence as the game reached half-time, after a completely dominant Scotland performance.
It was a quadruple sub at half-time for Scotland as Matthew Anderson, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham and Kristi Montgomery were replaced by Ben McPherson, Rudi Molotnikov, Samuel Cleall-Harding and Miller Thomson.
James Wilson sealed his hat-trick after Harry Victor in the Gibraltar goal spilled Ben McPherson’s cross, leaving the Hearts striker an empty net to tap home from inches out.
Emilio Lawrence made it two Scotland hat-tricks on the night to make it 9, before moments later, making it 10 on the night as he bagged his fourth.
Lawrence was involved again as his quick feet gave him the space to clip a ball across the 18-yard box, an inviting ball which substitute Miller Thomson met, sliding in to knock an 11th past the despairing Gibraltar keeper.
A round dozen for Scotland arrived on 82 minutes as centre-back Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen pounced on a bouncing ball in the box to thunder a strike into the roof of the net.
A record-breaking night for the Young Team, as their victory surpassed the previous record win of 7-0 against San Marino in October 2020 sending the boys off to Azerbaijan on a high.
Scotland Team
Scotland: Ruaridh Adams (GK), Colby Donovan (Ben McPherson, 46), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Luke Graham (Samuel Cleall-Harding, 46), Matthew Anderson (Miller Thomson, 46), Kristi Montgomery (Rudi Molotnikov, 46), Kyle Ure, David Watson ©, Emilio Lawrence, Dire Mebude, James Wilson (Ryan One, 51)
Substitutes: Rory Mahady (GK), Liam McFarlane (GK), Ben McPherson, Samuel Cleall-Harding, Rudi Molotnikov, Macauley Tait, Findlay Curtis, Ryan One, Miller Thomson
Next-up
The young team have a lengthy trip ahead as they travel to Baku to face Azerbaijan