Close contest but Scotland lose to Spain at Women’s Junior World Cup

Spain 2-0 Scotland

Scotland opened their Women’s Junior World Cup with an excellent performance but lose to Spain 2-0. After a 20 year wait the Scotland U21 Women’s side stepped foot on the pitch at Junior Women’s World Cup, Santiago, Chile, and came out flying.

The first chance went to Scotland early doors when Mhairi Low won the ball and burst into the circle, but her final effort looped wide of the left post.

Then Cat Nelli cut into the circle from the left baseline and fizzed a fierce effort towards the bottom right corner but the outstretched leg of Carlota Alvarez in goal deflected the ball high into the air.

The Scots controlled the opening of the contest but Spain edged into the game as the quarter neared an end, and were denied by the frame of the goal after a slick attack down the right.

The tables turned when Spain took the lead early in the second quarter when Anna Gardsjord found the net following a scramble at a penalty corner to make it 1-0.

As the quarter continued Spain continued to pile on the pressure. Jess Mitchell denied them a second with a tremendous diving save to the bottom right corner.

Scotland almost bagged an equaliser in the final minute of the half. Marianna Maclean surged down the right and picked out Nelli diving in but her deflection went wide of the left post.

The Scots started the second half like they started the first and quickly fashioned some dangerous opportunities, the closest of which saw Maclean denied by a save under the crossbar.

Spain bagged their second in the latter phases of the game when Scotland struggled to clear the ball and Victoria Madariaga zipped a low effort into the bottom left corner for 2-0.

Scotland held their own in terms of play but couldn’t find the net and Spain took the points. The Scots now face Canada on Thursday at 16:30 in their second pool match.

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