UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2022/23 Scotland 5-2 Qualifying round Kazakhstan Somerset Park, Ayr Saturday, November 19, 2022
Scotland 5: Ure (5′, 63′), Anderson (42′), Adam (78′), Mebude (90′)
Kazakhstan 2: Trufanov (28′), Askarov (62′)
Billy Stark made adjustments after his team’s midweek loss to Iceland, along with Jack Harkness, Barry Hepburn, Robbie Ure, Connor Allan and Dylan Reid.
Scotland were obviously excited after Wednesday’s tight defeat and got off to a brilliant start with a cool afternoon in Ayr, with Ure unfortunate to be denied a penalty in the 3rd minute when he gave the impression he was caught late.
However, Ure’s frustration did not last long, and it was the striker who opened the scoring just two minutes later when he finished off a quick move by Scotland.
Dire Mebude the move with a slalom run before his excellent Hepburn-ready back heel.
Hepburn’s shot blocked, as Josh Adam’s follow-up, but Ure made no mistakes when the ball shot six yards as he calmed down and brought the ball home.
It was an open start and Mackenzie Carse was the next to try his luck, but his effort was saved by Kazakhstan goalkeeper Miras Rikhard.
Scotland were in the lead, they were frightened in the 10th minute when Azamat Kalymbekov’s long-range shot grazed the post.
Most commonly, however, traffic is one-way, with Hepburn and Matthew Anderson seeing stored shots after purpose-putting them in, while Carse had enough long-range attempts that were too close to Kalymbetov.
Kazakhstan had been in the game, but surprised Scotland in the 28th minute when Yan Trufanov discovered the area to head into the far corner.
Billy Stark’s team kept moving forward despite the setback and Adam was the next to approach while shooting from a tight angle.
Mebude then made a chance in the 35th minute after a sharp run, but his shot only found the side net.
Scotland went ahead and received their reward just before half-time when Adam discovered Anderson, whose shot went over Sultan Askarov and the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
Unfortunate Askarov, however, had to take advantage of a deflection shortly after half-time, as his long-range shot took Scottish goalkeeper Johnson on the back foot to bring the score to 2-2.
But their lead did not last long as Scotland responded in the 63rd minute.
Jack Harkness the architect, advancing to the right and sending the ball back to Ure who in the right position to bring his moment of play from close range.
However, Scotland seized on their advantage, adding a fourth in the 78th minute when Adam held on to a ball from Manchester City teammate Mebude before coldly hitting the ball to Rikhard and then touching an empty net.
Substitute Bobby Wales is inches away from extending Scotland’s lead, but his close-range shot hit the inside of the post.
There is still time for Scotland to go up 5th at the end of the last minute, however, as Mebude put his chant on the record, cutting inside before stopping the goalkeeper with a low left-footed.
Scotland return to Somerset Park on Tuesday for their final qualifying round against France.
Scotland: Johnson, Anderson, Harkness (McPherson 67′), Smith, Carse (Aiken 84′), Adam (Wales 80′), Mebude, Hepburn (Pollock 68′), Ure, Allan, Reid (Duncan 68′)
Unused substitutes: McFarlane, Towler, Offord, Blaney
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