Under-21 International Challenge Match
Slovakia 4-0 Scotland
Wednesday, 9 November 2016, kick-off 4.30pm (local)
Stadium Myjava, Myjava

European Under-21 Championship-bound Slovakia proved their credentials with a 4-0 win over a youthful Scotland side in Myjava this evening.

The hosts began their preparations for next summer’s finals in Poland with a strong display against a much younger Scotland side gearing up for the 2019 qualification campaign.

As in October against Iceland and FYR Macedonia, several Scotland players were handed their first taste of under-21 football with Hamilton Academical striker Eamonn Brophy, Greenock Morton forward Jai Quitongo and Ayr United midfielder Alan Forrest all earning their first caps.

Slovakia finished first in Qualifying Group 8 last month, ahead of The Netherlands and Turkey, to guarantee a place at the 2017 finals and it took them just eight minutes to get ahead today through Albert Rusnak.

He showed great pace on the right to find space before firing a low shot across Ryan Fulton’s goal and into the bottom corner.

Scotland went close to levelling shortly after half time when Ryan Hardie broke free of the Slovakian defence but his shot smashed off the post.

Slovakia were soon two up in bizarre circumstances after Alex Iacovitti’s pass back to Fulton bobbled over the goalkeeper’s foot and into the back of the net.

Both sides soon made a number of personnel changes and Slovakia grabbed two more goals from close range late in the game to seal a comfortable victory.

Scotland will find out their 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying opponents on 26 January.

SCOTLAND | Fulton (GK), Smith (Sheppard 71), Cameron (MacDonald 71), Souttar (Cpt.), Iacovitti, Jules (Sammut 67), Henderson (Quitongo 46), Cadden (Nesbitt 67), Jones, Brophy (Hardie 46), Docherty (Forrest 67).

Subs not used: Doohan (GK).