UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying: Group B2
Scotland 1-0 Slovakia
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Hampden Park, Glasgow 

Team news

Scotland made four changes from their 0-0 draw with Serbia on Friday, with Lee Gibson replacing the injured Sandy MacIver, while Jenna Clark, Jane Ross and Fiona Brown all came in from the start. Rachel Corsie, winning her 150th cap, moved forward into midfield as Chelsea Cornet dropped to the bench.

As it happened…

Scotland started on the front foot and Ross had the first opportunity, meeting an inswinging Erin Cuthbert cross and producing a good save from Slovakia goalkeeper Maria Korenciova.

From the resulting corner Scotland also worked another chance and Evans was the next to threaten as her shot was deflected narrowly wide. 

Kirsty Smith then went close, bursting onto a pass from Evans but her effort flew just over.

Another defender, Sophie Howard, had two headed chances in quick succession, putting the first effort narrowly wide and then heading straight at Korenciova.

Scotland were peppering the goal, with Brown mis-kicking when well found and Cuthbert seeing another effort from the edge of the box saved by the busy Korenciova.

It had been one-way traffic but Slovakia did have a shot just before half-time as Tamara Moravkova produced a near-post save from Lee Gibson.

Scotland were beginning to get frustrated as the game wore on but they finally made the breakthrough just after the hour mark. 

Howard had gone close twice in the first half but she made no mistake with her third attempt. It was Cuthbert who was the architect, delivering an inswinging free-kick that Howard headed beyond Korenciova to ease the building nerves inside Hampden. 

Captain Corsie nearly marked her landmark appearance with a goal but she could only volley over from Howard's knock-down as the Scots looked to make the game safe. 

Jane Ross really should then have made the game safe in the 76th minute after Cuthbert won the ball high up the park. However, despite a neat turn and swivel, her left-footed shot was too close to the goalkeeper. 

Scotland could have scored more on the night but the away side rarely looked a threat as Martinez Losa's side saw the game out comfortably to seal the win and a return of four points from their first two qualifiers.

Next Up

Scotland are back in action at the end of May with back to back matches against Israel as the qualifying campaign continues.

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, Smith (Napier 57), Clark (Rodgers 85), Howard, Docherty, Corsie, Kerr (Cornet 70), Cuthbert, Evans, Ross (Ewens 85), Brown (Emslie 57)

Unused subs: Gallacher, Fife, Hay, Harrison-Murray, Davidson, Cumings