Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 Scotland
International Friendly
Tuesday, 31 March 
The Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool

Scorers

Cote D'Ivoire 1 (Pepe 12)

Scotland 0 

Team News

Steve Clarke had hinted that changes would come and the Scotland Head Coach was true to his word, making nine alterations, with only captain Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay keeping their places. 

Dom Hyam made his first start, while goalkeeper Liam Kelly and right back Ross McCrorie made only their second international appearances. 

Che Adams, Ryan Christie, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie, Billy Gilmour and George Hirst were the other changes. 

As It Happened

The Tartan Army had travelled south in their thousands and they made their voices heard in the opening stages as Scotland made a fast start.

Christie had the first attempt of the match after Hirst's shot was blocked but Cote D'Ivoire keeper Alban Lafont made the diving stop.

The chances were coming for Scotland in the opening stages and Christie flashed another effort over before McTominay miscued a low shot when well placed.

Robertson's cross then dropped for Christie again moments later but this time the 31-year-old was unable to connect properly.

After such a lively start, it was the African side who took a shock lead, with Nicolas Pepe stabbing in from close range after Elye Wahi's low shot had cannoned off the far post.

Wahi came close again just before the half hour mark as his dipping shot landed on the roof of the net with Kelly scrambling.

Scotland had not tested Lafont since the early stages but McTominay did manage to in the 33rd minute, working space well at the edge of the box and forcing a diving save from the keeper.

There was little to report in the closing stages of the half, while Clarke opted to make two changes at the break, swapping his keepers to give Scott Bain his first Scotland cap in seven years and bringing Lewis Ferguson on for McTominay.

Scotland began the second half brightly, as they had the first, and Hirst did well to connect with a McCrorie cross but his effort drifted over the bar. 

Adams also came close with a header just before the hour mark but his attempt did not have enough power to beat Lafont.

Cote D'Ivoire were still threatening, however, and Guela Doue headed over in the 66th minute to give the Scots a scare.

Clarke continued to make the changes as we entered the closing stages, with Nathan Patterson, John McGinn and Kenny McLean all entering the fray. 

Hirst had been lively throughout for the Scots and he came close twice in the 76th minute, seeing a near post header from a McGinn corner blocked, before lashing powerfully over when the loose ball dropped as The Elephants failed to clear their lines. 

Tommy Conway and Lyndon Dykes were thrown on as Scotland looked to finish strongly, and Robertson - on the night he became the second most capped Scotland player - almost found an equaliser as he was fed by McGinn but his low shot was well blocked.

Bain had had little to do on his long-awaited return in the dark blue of Scotland but he made a big impact in the 89th minute, superbly tipping wide an Amad Diallo effort that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Simon Adingra also struck a post in added time while Dykes almost bundled in at the bac post but in the end there would be no further goals as a competitive match ended 1-0 to Cote D'Ivoire. 

 

Next Up

Scotland will be back in action at the end of May, as we continue our FIFA World Cup preparations with a home send-off match against Curacao at Barclays Hampden.

Teams

Cote D'Ivoire: Lafont, Konan (Diomande (Kossounou, Singo, Touré, Pépé (Traoré, (Wahi (

Akpa, Fofana, Fofana, Godo, Guiagon, Koné, Ndicka, Sangaré, Seri 

Unused Substitutes:

Scotland: Kelly (Bain 46), McCrorie (Patterson 62), Souttar, Hyam, Tierney, Robertson, McTominay (Ferguson 46), Christie (McLean 70), Gilmour (McGinn 70), Adams (Conway 77), Hirst (Dykes 77)

Unused Substitutes: Gunn, Hendry, Miller, McKenna, Ralston, Curtis