Toulon tournament
Scotland 2, South Korea 1.
Saturday, 2 June 2018, kick-off 2pm (UK time)
Stade Parsemain, Fos-Sur-Mer
Scotland: Billy Gilmour (2), Oliver Burke (8); South Korea: Lee Kangin (72)
Scotland are back in the semi-finals of the prestigious Toulon tournament for a second successive year after clinching top spot in Group B with a 2-1 win over South Korea.
Two goals in the first eight minutes were enough to seal success and tee up a last-four encounter with England on Wednesday.
Sixteen-year-old Billy Gilmour became not only the Under-21 side's youngest ever goalscorer - but also the first Scottish FA JD Performance School graduate to net at this level.
Second start for the 21s, my first goal and more importantly won and topped the group🏴 pic.twitter.com/RylgcLRfPK
— Billy Gilmour (@billygilmourrr) June 2, 2018
The Chelsea playmaker's beautifully curled strike inside two minutes was quickly followed by a superb solo goal from skipper Oliver Burke.
A long-distance free-kick from Lee Kangin ensured a nervy conclusion to the keenly-contested affair but, once again, the young Scots proved they could find the right blend of craft and graft to get the job done.
Highlighting Scotland’s strength in depth, Scot Gemmill was able to recall Ross Doohan in goal at the expense of Robby McCrorie – who played such an important role in the win over France.
Glenn Middleton also earned a start in place of Michael Johnston.
Good 2-1 win in my first start for the u21s today, happy to get an assist too! Semi finals next🏴
— Glenn Middleton (@Glenn_M22) June 2, 2018
The winger, who caught the eye with a late cameo against Togo, quickly made an impact.
He took a Greg Taylor pass in his stride on the left flank before bursting clear of his marker with a trademark turn of pace.
Middleton kept his cool when it counted, with a precision cut-back for Gilmour.
The youngest player on the pitch was similarly composed, turning inside and out in a packed box before bending the ball beyond diving keeper Seongjun Min.
It was a great piece of skill that capped off a slick move.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the Scots upped the ante.
With just eight minutes on the clock, captain Burke picked up where he left off against France.
Picking the ball up in his own half, Burke drove at the South Korean defence – who simply had no answer for his speed and strength.
The West Brom man evaded tackle after tackle before dinking the ball over the advancing shot-stopper.
It could so easily have been 3-0 had it not been for a stroke of bad luck.
Min was loose with a clearance, that fell straight to the pressing Gilmour, but the hard-working prospect unfortunately lost his footing while preparing to shoot.
In hot conditions, with a third game in quick succession, Gemmill freshened things up at the interval.
Gilmour’s fellow Performance School graduate and 16-year-old Chris Hamilton was introduced in place of Anthony Ralston, while there was a first Toulon run-out for Elliot Watt, who replaced Iain Wilson.
Happy to make my debut for the u21s, on to the semi’s🏴 https://t.co/0dpgXEaLe5
— elliot watt (@ell_watt00) June 2, 2018
South Korea pushed hard, looking for a way back into the match, but were largely frustrated in their efforts against a resilient backline.
At the other end, Middleton again displayed his threat on the counter after racing on to a perfectly weighted through-ball from Watt but his shot trickled just wide.
The deficit was reduced with eight minutes remaining when Kangin Lee’s well-executed 25-yard free-kick just slipped by Doohan’s outstretched hand.
Scotland, though, were able to dig out the win that – coupled with France’s triumph over Togo later in the day – confirmed their final four status.
Scotland: Doohan, Ralston (Hamilton), Kerr, Porteous, Taylor, Wilson (Watt), Gilmour, Campbell, Middleton (Harvie), Burke (St Clair), Hornby.
Scotland Squad
Ross Doohan (Celtic)
Robby McCrorie (Rangers)
Daniel Harvie (Aberdeen)
Jason Kerr (St Johnstone)
Chris Hamilton (Heart of Midlothian)
Ryan Porteous (Hibernian)
Anthony Ralston (Celtic)
Greg Taylor (Kilmarnock)
Iain Wilson (Kilmarnock)
Liam Burt (Rangers)
Allan Campbell (Motherwell)
Billy Gilmour (Chelsea)
Fraser Hornby (Everton)
Glenn Middleton (Rangers)
Harvey St Clair (Chelsea)
Elliot Watt (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Oliver Burke (West Bromwich Albion)
Michael Johnston (Celtic)
Craig Wighton (Dundee)
Scott Wright (Aberdeen)
Full Draw
Group A: China, England, Mexico, Qatar
Group B: France, Scotland, South Korea, Togo
Group C: Canada, Japan, Portugal, Turkey
Fixtures
Scotland 1, Togo 1, Stade de Lattre, Aubagne
Scotland 1, France 0, Stade D’Honneur, Salon
Scotland 2, South Korea 1, Stade Parsemain, Fos-Sur-Mer