UEFA Under-21 European Qualifier
Portugal 3 – 0 Scotland 
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Estadio Antonio Coimbra Da Mota, Portugal

Portugal 3 (Fernandes 29, Banjaqui 44, Moreira 54)

Scotland 0 

The young Scots lined up against the hosts with Ryan Oné leading the line, Dylan Lobban and Mitchell Frame in the wingback area and a back three of Mullen, Graham and Allan, with Steven deployed to support from wide.

A crowd of almost 4000 filed in as the game kicked off in Estoril. While the hosts initially took control of possession, the visitors pressed, harried and battled as soon as they entered Scotland territory.

Taylor Steven managed the Scots’ first strike on target, after being played through by Kyle Ure, but blazed the ball high over Carvalho’s goal on 24 minutes.

The hosts took the lead on 28 minutes through Roger Fernandes. A threaded pass found Daniel Banjaqui, who cut the ball back, with a slight deflection from Luke Graham taking the ball away from Mullen leaving Portugal’s number 21 to fire high into the net over Ruaridh Adams.

Adams did well to keep the score at 1-0 on 40 minutes after the ball broke to Joao Simoes in the 18 yard box, getting down well through a crowd of bodies to beat the ball away from goal.

The hosts did make it two just before half-time after some neat work down the right-hand side saw the ball cut inside to Daniel Banjaqui, with right-back firing it low into the corner beyond Adams after a nick off Luke Graham on the way through.

The half-ended 2-0 as the sun set on Estoril. David Watson departed at the end of the half, with Tyler Fletcher making his Scotland U21 debut in his place, with Luke Graham taking the captaincy.

The visitors started the second period looking to work a way back into the game, with Fletcher and Oné combining well, and Frame bursting left, but were caught out wide again as Carlos Forbs twisted inside, finding Goncalo Moreira free in the box to lash past Adams for a third time.

Scotland responded with two substitutes, as Connor Allan and Ryan Oné departed, replaced by Sam Cleall-Harding and Barney Stewart, with James Wilson joining the action in place on Taylor Steven ten minutes later.

With 15 minutes remaining Fletcher almost had a flying start to his 21s career, latching on to a pass from Barney Stewart and bursting into the Portugal box, but Carvalho tipped his shot round the post.

Emilio Lawrence joined the fray with 10 minutes remaining replacing Ryan Carr as the Scots battled away but were unable to find a route back into the game.

Scotland Team

Scotland: Ruaridh Adams (GK), Dylan Lobban, Luke Graham, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Connor Allan (56, Sam Cleall-Harding), Mitchel Frame, Kyle Ure, David Watson (45, Tyler Fletcher), Ryan Carr (80, Emilio Lawrence), Taylor Steven (66, James Wilson), Ryan Oné (56, Barney Stewart)

Substitutes: Liam McFarlane (GK), Woody Williamson (GK), Barney Stewart (56, Ryan Oné), James Wilson (66, Taylor Steven), Emilio Lawrence (80, Ryan Carr), Tyler Fletcher (45, David Watson), Sam Cleall-Harding (56, Connor Allan)