Scotland Under-19s 2 Portugal Under-19s 4

THERE WAS no repeat of Friday’s last-gasp heroics last night as Scotland’s Under-19 stars succumbed to the clinical finishing of Portugal at McDiarmid Park, writes Mark Mackay.

The visitors progressed to the European Championships, in Austria in July, after a victory in Perth that rarely seemed in doubt.

At times Scotland’s defence and midfield were simply unable to deal with the movement of Portugal’s attackers.

Nonetheless, a spirited comeback by Archie Knox’s men, coupled with some panicky Portuguese defending, gave a crowd of more than 2000 hope of at least an equaliser.

Five minutes of injury time roused them again, before the Portuguese inflicted further injury with a fourth goal.

The game’s first goal came in the 29th minute and followed one of the scrappiest passages of play in a disjointed first half.

Out of a midfield scramble, one pass released the game’s star performer Fabio Coentrao to run in behind the Scots’ defence and place the ball confidently beyond Alan Martin.

Just a minute from half time the visitors made it two, when a dreadful pass out of defence from Friday’s hero Alex Pearce allowed Andre Castro to stride into the box.

Martin blocked his shot, but the ball squirmed to Rui Pedro who reacted quicker than the home defenders to lash the ball high into the net.

Motherwell’s Darren Smith, a half-time substitute, proved the catalyst for a revival in Scotland’s fortunes in the second half.

His first act was a woefully mistimed tackle on Coentrao, but his powerful running, coupled with some quality crosses, soon caused panic in the Portuguese defence.

A series of fluffed clearances provided Scotland with successive corners and from the second Pearce towered above the Portuguese defence to head in Smith’s set piece.

The stopper must have believed he’d redeemed himself following his first-half error, but within a minute of the restart the Reading player misjudged an interception, allowing Rui Pedro to wrap his foot around the ball at the byline.

His cutback was bundled into the net by substitute Ivan Santos for Portugal’s third.

Despite the setback, the Scots continued to fight and in the 89th minute Smith gave them hope when he stooped to head home a Caddis cross.

Portuguese nerves were calmed in the final minute of added time when yet another error in the Scottish defence allowed Daniel Candeias to lift the ball over goalkeeper Martin and a despairing defender.

The final whistle followed soon after, enabling the Portuguese to celebrate their place in the finals in front of rapidly emptying stands.

Attendance—2063.

Scotland—Martin (Motherwell), Cave-Brown (Norwich) (Goodwillie, Dundee United 45), Scobbie (Falkirk), Pearce (Reading), Shinnie (Rangers), Lennon (Rangers) (Flynn, Liverpool 62), McDonald (Dundee), Stevenson (Hibs), Caddis (Celtic), Kinniburgh (Rangers), Chisholm (Hibs) (Smith, Motherwell 45). Subs not used—Gallacher (Rangers), McCormack (Hibs), McLaren (Gretna).

Portugal—Patricio, Portela (Fernandez 89), Granja, Carrico, Alves, Castro, Candeias, Rui Pedro, Pereirinha (Santos, 74), Cruz, Coentrao (Monteiro 94).

Referee—Tony Chapron (France).