Under-20 International Friendly
Slovakia 2-1 Scotland 
Friday, 23 May 2025 
NTC Senec, Slovakia

Scorers

Slovakia 2 (46’ Alexej Maros, 83’ Jakub Jorel)

Scotland 1 (9’ Bobby Wales)

Team News

An experimental squad left Head Coach Scot Gemmill with a number of new prospects in front of him for this friendly match, leaving a stating XI made up of those experienced at Under-21 level, and a group of fresh faces.

Taylor Steven, Kristi Montgomery and Mitchell Robertson made their debuts at this level from the start, with Aidan Glavin and Noah McCann all looking to make a similar landmark appearance from the bench.

James Wilson – soon to join up with the Men’s A squad in June – also made his debut under Gemmill, Experience came in the form of David Watson, who took the armband, Daniel Kelly and Bobby Wales.

 

As It Happened

Scotland dominated the opening portion of the match, with strong play down both flanks. One of these moves culminated in the ball being cut back to James Wilson, who struck first-time, his left-footed shot hitting the crossbar.

He came close again moments later, this time driving into the box and shooting right-footed on the diagonal, but his shot rolled wide of the far post.

Slovakia soon fashioned chances of their own, Liam McFarlane forced into a smart save down low to his left-hand side.

Not long after, in the 11th minute, Taylor Steven played a through ball into Bobby Wales’ path, with the No.9 showing composure to finish cooly past the Slovakia goalkeeper one-on-one.

 

As Slovakia pushed for an equaliser, they ended the half on top, first hitting the bar through Matej Riznic, then seeing Anndy Masaryk blast his shoot over the bar after it rebounded to him from anther impressive Liam McFarlane save.

Three changes at the half-time interval saw Murray Johnson, Adam Forrester and Dylan Reid replace Liam McFarlane, Kristi Montgomery and Jack Kingdon, respectively, prompting a change in shape for the second half.

Slovakia made a fast start after the break, finding the net via Alexej Maros on 47 minutes.

The equaliser clearly encouraged the hosts, as they continued to press for a second, but it was Scotland who would have the best chance, as James Wilson watched the ball go wide of the post after attempting to lift it over the goalkeeper.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, Slovakia then took their opportunity to win the game, as substitute Jakub Jorel curled home a fine finish in the 83rd minutes, the hosts seeing out the remainder of the game.

Scotland Team

Scotland: McFarlane (GK) (OFF, 45’), Frame (OFF, 74’), Robertson, Kingdon (OFF, 45’), Wilson (OFF, 74’), Steven, Wales (OFF, 84’), Kelly (OFF, 61’), Watson ©, Montgomery (OFF, 45’), Agbaire (OFF, 84’).

Substitutes: Johnson (GK) (ON, 45’), Glavin (GK), Forrester (ON, 45’), McCann (ON, 74’), Curtis (ON, 61’), Reid (ON, 45’), Beattie (ON, 84’), Allan (ON, 74’), McArthur (ON, 84’).