Vauxhall International Challenge Match
Scotland 1-0 Denmark
Tuesday 29th March 2016, kick-off 8pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow

(Ritchie 8’)

An early goal from Matt Ritchie secured victory for Scotland over Denmark at Hampden Park.

The Bournemouth playmaker’s goal after eight minutes was the difference between the two sides at the National Stadium, as Scotland recorded their second victory in a week.

Gordon Strachan handed international debuts to Kieran Tierney and John McGinn, while captain Scott Brown won his 50th cap for Scotland on a rain soaked night at the National Stadium.



The Scotland fans were soon cheering despite the weather, however, when the home side took the lead after just eight minutes.

Matt Ritchie, fresh from receiving his 2015 Scotland Goal of the Year award, pounced on a moment’s hesitation from Daniel Agger to nip in front of the Brøndy player. From there, he made no mistake in firing past Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel to score his third goal for his country.

Five minutes later only a great tackle from debutant Tierney prevented the visitors from equalising. Yussuf Yurary Poulsen was about to have a shot on goal, only for a dashing intervention from the young Celtic player to block the shot.

Although it was 1-0 at the interval, Steven Fletcher and Leigh Griffiths both came close to doubling Scotland’s lead. Fletcher, who returned to the squad after missing Thursday’s match in Prague through illness, had a header saved by Schmeichel after 30 minutes. Griffiths was also lively, and nearly reached a through ball from Shaun Maloney only for the Danish ‘keeper to smother the danger.

Changes were made by both managers at half-time, with Ikechi Anya and Charlie Mulgrew replacing Tierney and Fletcher respectively. Despite the changes, the match maintained a high tempo, with Craig Gordon forced to make a string of fine saves to prevent the Danes from equalising. At the other end, fellow debutant Oliver Burke nearly grabbed an assist on debut, with the Nottingham Forrest winger’s cross almost finding Chris Martin.

Scotland successfully held on for the victory infront of over 18,000 fans at a rainy Hampden Park to complete a successful week of international football. Next up for Gordon Strachan’s side is a trip to Malta to face Italy at the end of May. 

Scotland: Gordon, Whittaker, Tierney (Mulgrew 46’), Greer, Hanley, Ritchie (Burke 82’), Brown (C), Fletcher (Anya 46’), Griffiths (Martin 59’), Maloney (Bridcutt 68’), McGinn

Subs not used: Bain, Caddis, Forrest, Cooper, Murphy