UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 Qualifier
FYR Macedonia 1-4 Scotland
Tuesday 26th October 2015, kick-off 13:30 local time
FFM Training Centre, Skopje

(Rochi 44’; Little 22’, Corsie 27’,28’, Weir 31’)

Scotland regained top-spot in Group 1 of UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 qualifying with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over FYR Macedonia in Skopje.

Goals from Kim Little and Caroline Weir and a brace from Rachel Corsie, all inside a ten-minute spell in the middle of the first-half, continued Scotland’s 100% record in qualifying so far.

Anna Signeul made one change from the team that defeated Belarus 7-0 at Fir Park with Leanne Ross coming in to replacing the injured Lisa Evans of Bayern Munich.

Scotland picked up in Skopje where they left off in Motherwell on Friday, pinning their opponents inside their own half.  The home side opted to play with a back five meaning that, like against Belarus, Scotland had most of the possession in the opening stages.

Macedonia’s resistance lasted 21 minutes before Scotland took the lead. A neat flick from Jane Ross was latched on to by Kim Little, who utilized the newly-created space inside the penalty box to fire past Viktorija Doneva to open the scoring. 

The goalkeeper had done well to prevent Scotland scoring in the opening 20 minutes, making fine saves deny Ross and Jo Love, but the Seattle Reign star’s effort was too good.

The goal triggered a ten-minute blitz for Anna Signeul’s side, in which the team  went on to score three more times before a third of the match had been played.

A quick-fire brace from Rachel Corsie, one with a header and another from 25 yards, was swiftly followed by a goal for Caroline Weir. The Bristol Academy striker’s shot from outside the box snuck under Doneva to cap off a remarkable ten-minute spell.

On the stroke of half-time, Scotland conceded the first goal of the campaign. Macedonia’s captain, Natasha Andonova, played a clever long-ball behind Eilish McSorley to find Gentjiana Rochi. Rochi, who plays in Bundesliga 2 with Cloppenburg, showed composure to calmly place the ball into the bottom corner past Gemma Fay to score Macedonia’s first goal in UEFA Women’s EURO qualifying.

Scotland tried to press home their advantage in the second half, but could not extend their lead to more than three goals. Scotland now have a superior goal difference to Iceland, and top Group 1 with maximum points from their opening three games.

Scotland: Fay (GK, C), McSorley, L.Ross (Arnot 65’), Love (Crichton 84’), Lauder, Little, Weir (Smith 80’), J.Ross, Corsie, Beattie, Brown

Subs not used: Lynn (GK), Murray, Clelland, Arthur