UEFA Under-21 European Qualifier
Scotland 1 – 0 Bulgaria
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Fir Park, Motherwell
Scotland 1 Mebude (36)
Bulgaria 0
Scot Gemmill made five changes from the side that started in at Europa Point stadium in Belarus, with Dylan Lobban, Taylor Steven, Luke Graham, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kristi Montgomery and Dire Mebude starting at Fir Park.
Bulgaria were the first to get a shot on target in the game as Nikola Iliev tested Ruaridh Adams from the edge of the box, but the big Scotland keeper parried the ball away confidently.
Kristiyan Balov was the next to test Adams, as he broke the offside trap and strode towards the Scotland goal, but a combination of Dylan Lobban’s back-tracking and Adams’ positioning kept the score level at 0-0.
Andy Tod had been testing the Bulgarian back-line throughout the opening stages of the game, and twisted away from the back-line and clipped a fine cross, but David Watson couldn’t connect in the 18 yard box.
The flowed from end to end with both sides fashioning chances, with Scot Gemmill’s side playing some intricate football as they sought to open up the Bulgarian defence.
A foul on Connor Allan from a Scotland corner saw referee Wojciech Myc award Scotland a penalty, which Dire Mebude converted expertly into the bottom right corner on 36 minutes, giving the Young Scots a deserved lead.
The second-half started as the first finished, as attacks from both sides were formed and batted away. Just five minutes into the second-half there was a blow for Scotland as Kyle Ure was forced off with an injury, to be replaced by Ryan Carr.
The 64th minute saw a double Scotland substitution as Dire Mebude and Andy Tod were replaced by James Wilson and Barney Stewart.
Scotland’s first real chance of the second-half fell to David Watson as he reacted quickest to a knock-on from Barney Stewart, but could only find the side-netting.
Scotland saw Captain David Watson depart on 79 minutes, to be replaced by Sam Cleall-Harding.
Some great work from Taylor Steven down the left saw him dig out a cross to a fast arriving Connor Allan at the back-post, but Bulgaria’s defence stood firm as the Scots chased a second.
Bulgaria pulled out a good chance at the start of injury time, but Borislav Rupanov could only flash the ball harmlessly wide.
Scotland saw out the remainder of injury time to secure a fine win at Fir Park.
Scotland Team
Scotland: Ruaridh Adams (GK), Dylan Lobban, Connor Allan, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Luke Graham, Taylor Steven, Kyle Ure (54, Ryan Carr), Kristi Montgomery, David Watson (79, Sam Cleall-Harding) ©, Dire Mebude (64, James Wilson), Andy Tod (64, Barney Stewart)
Substitutes: Liam McFarlane (GK),Ben McPherson, Sam Cleall-Harding (79, David Watson), Ryan Carr (54, Kyle Ure), Ethan Sutherland, Emilio Lawrence, James Wilson (64, Dire Mebude), Rory Wilson, Barney Stewart (64, Andy Tod)