Toulon tournament
Scotland 1, England 3
Wednesday, 6 June 2018, kick-off 6.30pm (GMT)
Stade de Lattre, Aubagne
Scotland’s Under-21s left the Stade de Lattre disappointed but with their heads held high after defeat to England at the semi-final stage of the Toulon tournament.
Michael Johnston’s superb individual goal ensured Scot Gemmill’s side went into half-time deservedly a goal up.
However, unfortunately they had no answer to a dominant second-half performance from Aidy Boothroyd’s men – who turned the tide with an equaliser from Callum Connolly and brace from Eddie Nketiah.
That ensured Scotland will head into a third and fourth-place play-off with Turkey on Saturday while England look to clinch their third Toulon title in a row.
Scotland started on the front foot and were the better team in the first half.
They came within inches of opening the scoring when a typically intelligent chipped pass over the top from the impressive Billy Gilmour saw captain Oliver Burke break free of chasing defender Jake Clarke-Salter with his searing pace.
After cutting in from the right Burke could only look on in agony as his shot bounced back off the post to safety.
Scotland, though, weren’t to be denied – with a goal that joins Gilmour and Burke’s efforts earlier in the competition as Goal of the Tournament contenders.
England appeared content that there was little threat posed when diminutive winger Johnston picked up the ball deep on the left flank.
But he Celtic winger displayed all his trickery and intent to take on opponents by slaloming his way by three defenders before unleashing an unstoppable strike that left former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock loan keeper Freddie Woodman with no chance in the England goal.
Holding the lead until half-time gave Scotland genuine hope of an upset, but England upped the ante after the interval.
Connolly equalised before Nketiah showcased his own talent with two excellent goals to put the game beyond doubt.
Scotland: McCrorie, Ralston, Kerr, Porteous, Taylor, Gilmour, Wilson (Burt), Campbell (Watt), Burke (Middleton), Johnston, 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)
Results
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
Scotland 1, England 3, Stade de Lattre, Aubagne