UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship – Round 1
Scotland 2-1 Poland 
Monday, 7 October 2024
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

Scotland Women's Under-17s, who had already secured their qualification for the Round Two qualifiers, made it three wins out of three as they defeated Poland on Monday. 

The second round of qualifying will take place early in 2025, with each group winner reaching the finals in Faroe Islands next summer.

Score

Scotland 2 (McGoldrick 48, Fraser 55)

Poland 1 (Guzenda 4)

Team news

As on Friday, Head Coach Michael McArdle opted to make four changes, with Olivia McStay, Abby Hayes, Ava Crawford and Mia Selbie all dropping to the bench as Darra Dawson, Kate Fraser, Mae English and Neve McDonald all came in from the start.

As it happened

Scotland had had it all their own way in the opening two fixtures but they had to do it the hard way this time, going a goal down after only four minutes. 

There was an element of fortune to the goal, with Amelia Guzenda's shot taking a wicked deflection and flying past the helpless Braelynn Galt. 

Scotland reacted well and Fraser was close to the equaliser in the 22nd minute as her back post header went narrowly over the bar.

Jessica Husband's inswinging corners were causing problems for Poland and Amy Sharkey were nearly connected with a header and Lily Boyce volleyed over as the hosts finished the first half on top. 

And Scotland would get back on level terms within three minutes of the restart, with Husband involved once again. After Fraser played a free-kick outwide, full-back Husband's inviting delivery was headed home superbly by captain Sienna McGoldrick to make it 1-1. 

Having drawn level, it did not take long for Scotland to get their noses in front as Fraser met another deep Husband cross with a back-post header. Although it was cleared off the line, referee Jelena Kumer viewed the ball to have crossed the line as Scotland led.

Confidence was flowing through the Scotland team now, and Amy Sharkey was close to extending the lead in the 71st minute as she went through on goal but it was saved at the near post by goalkeeper Dominika Lemanczyk.

Lemanczyk had to be alert once again in the 88th minute as McDonald showed sublime footwork to get down the left and have a shot at the near-post that was kept out. 

The score remained 2-1 but that was enough to ensure Scotland made it three wins out of three from a successful camp.

Post-match reaction

Reflected on the three matches, Head Coach Michael McArdle said: "The game today is the pinnacle of the work we’ve been doing with the group over the past few months, taking the styles of play and the principles of play across the pathway and trying to take them to another level.

“I’m really happy with the performance because the girls were asked to do quite difficult things all over the pitch tactically and problem solving was excellent. It’s a really mature group and the game intelligence is high.

“Playing that way against the top seeds in the group is a good signal for us. We’ve had three different challenges throughout the week. Against Iceland, it was about using the size of the pitch and playing good football. Against Northern Ireland we played against a strong defensive structure and a passionate group that were hard to break down and then today we had to come from behind and that tests the resilience of the group.

“There’s unity and a real togetherness, even with all the clubs in the country, and that’s really helping the group.

“We’ve now got a friendly against Netherlands in November, because we want to test ourselves, given our high ambitions, and then we will look forward to the qualifiers in 2025.”

Teams

Scotland: Galt, Husband, Dawson, Fraser, Boyce, English (Young 68), McGoldrick (Syrjanen 80), Sharkey (Ositelu 88), Black, Burn (McStay 46), McDonald

Unused subs: Armitage, McStay, Hayes, Stewart, Ava Crawford, Selbie