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Under 19s Top Group After Taming Germany

Scotland 1

McPake 44

Germany 0

  • Tuesday, 15 October 2019
  • Firhill Stadium
  • Under 19´s
  • 2019/20 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round

Scotland under 19s produced a fantastic victory at Firhill against Germany which sees them finish top of group three. A solitary goal from Josh McPake at the end of the first half was enough for the under 19s to progress to the next stage of qualifying as they look to book a place at the 2020 UEFA Euro Under 19s Championship.

A cagey start from both teams saw Germany have more possession in the opening stages, however none of their chances honestly threatened the Scotland goal early on.

As Germany continued to press they saw a Leon Dajaku shot blocked before Lazar Samardzic headed from in the box, however 6'6" Archie Mair collected easily. Scotland begun to come into the game more with good balls in from Josh McPake and Harrison Ashby, however the German defence had things covered.

Things heated up after a brief scuffle after a challenge between Chris Hamilton and Leon Dajaku, with both players ending up in the referees book. However both teams continued to struggle to make the breakthrough.

That was until just before half time, when Josh McPake slotted home a fantastically worked play for Scotland. A free kick which was cleared came to Dean Campbell just outside the box who played a beautiful reverse ball past the German defence to the feet of McPake.

The hard work wasn't finished however as McPake sized past Dynamo Dresden defender Kevin Ehlers, before deceiving the goalkeeper and shooting from a tight angle to open the scoring. The goal marked McPake's first goal for the under 19s, with the Rangers youth player currently on loan at Dundee shining throughout qualifying so far.

  • Half Time:
  • Scotland
  • 1-0
  • Germany

Scotland's goal at the end of the first half spurred them on to push for a second goal. An early Leon Dajaku shot for Germany went well over the bar and that was to be the closest they would come until the closing stages as Scotland threatened to increase their advantage throughout the rest of the half.

A free kick from Kai Kennedy at the edge of the box hit the post on the hour mark, with a touch from keeper Ramaj proving crucial to stop Scotland from getting a second. Good play in midfield from Harrison Ashby saw Scotland continue to push forward and they came close twice from corners with Dapo Mebude and captain Marc Leonard both seeing efforts blocked by the German defence. 

The second very nearly came on the 70th minute after Dapo Mebude played a fantastic through ball to Aberdeen youngster Ethan Ross. However, a fantastic last ditch defensive challenge in the box by Frederik Jakel stopped Ross from getting a shot away at the last second. Ross and fellow Scottish players gesticulated as they felt the challenge warranted a penalty, however Jakel's slight touch on the ball saw a corner result. 

As the final whistle neared Germany started to press for a much needed equaliser. Chances from the edge of the box by Noah Katterbach and Mick Gudra proved a small test for Archie Mair however the Norwich youth keeper had it covered. Germany's biggest opportunity for an equaliser came on the 90th minute when a corner swung in found Leon Schade with a free header on the edge of the six yard box, however he wasted his opportunity and headed over the bar.

One final penalty claim came as Katterbach went down in the area close to Harrison Ashby, however he was perhaps lucky not to receive a yellow card from the referee with the German clearly simulating his fall in an attempt to search for a German equaliser.

In the end Scotland brilliantly held on in a game which they went into as clear second favourites. The result sees them top group three ahead of Germany, who will progress with them to elite round of qualifying before the championships in Northern Ireland next year, whilst Belarus and Andorra will not progress past the first qualifying stage.

  • Full Time:
  • Scotland
  • 1-0
  • Germany

Lineups

Scotland
Germany
1. Archie Mair (GK)
3. Chris Hamilton
5. Jamie Hamilton
6. Dean Campbell
8. Marc Leonard (c)
9. Adedapo "Dapo" Awokoya-Mebude
10. Ethan Ross
11. Josh McPake
14. Harrison Ashby
18. Kai Kennedy
20. James Maxwell

SUBS:

12. Ross Sinclair (GK)
4. Connor McAvoy
7. Jack Burroughs
13. Luke Robinson
15. Ciaran Dickson
16. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
17. Lewis Fiorini
19. Kyle Joseph
1. Diant Ramaj (GK)
2. Simon Asta
4. Kevin Ehlers
5. Frederik Jakel
6. Niklas Tauer
8. Tom Krauss (c)
9. Leon Dajaku
11. Oscar Schonfelder
13. Leon Schade
14. Lazar Samardzic
19. Kaan Kurt

SUBS:

12. Daniel Klein (GK)
3. Noah Katterbach
7. Sebastian Muller
10. Oliver Batista Meier
15. Antonis Aidonis
16. Soufiane Messeguem
17. Mick Gudra
18. Malik Talabidi
20. Lenn Jastermski
Star Player
Scotland
Germany
Dapo Mebude - The Rangers youth player just edged it as man of the match with many of the attacking players shining in the crucial victory over Germany. His creativity throughout the 90 minutes was crucial for Scotland and his part played in the victory was fantastic as he continued to ensure Scotland were on the attack for the majoirty of the game. With multiple good through balls and runs he was perhaps unfortunate not to end the night with a goal or an assist.
Leon Dajaku - The highly rated Bayern Munich youngster looked hungry throughout the game and was probably the most threatening German player. With a lack of service from the midfield Dajaku was unable to quite breakthrough and get Germany that crucial equaliser they were searching for, however he stayed strong to the end of the match. His performance showed he will be one to look out for in the future.
Magic Moment
Scotland
Germany
Josh McPake scoring the game's solitary goal was Scotland's magic moment in the game. After an uninspired first half where Germany were arguably on top, a fantastic through ball by Dean Campbell after a free kick saw McPake bursting into the box. McPake then sized past skipper Kevin Ehlers before firing past keeper Diant Ramaj into the bottom corner, with the keeper anticipating a cross rather than a shot.

The goal went on to give Scotland a lot more confidence in the second half which inevitably saw them carry the win on to the whistle.
Magic indeed lacked from Germany's performance throughout the night which inevitably was their downfall. Defender Frederik Jakel however did put in a fantastic goal saving tackle on the 69th minute with Ethan Ross one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Despite Ross being in the box and preparing to shoot, Jakel kept his head and just got enough on the ball to stop a shot being taken.
  • Match report and photos copyright Youth Football Scotland.
Published in National Teams
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