Battling Belarus edge five-goal thriller

Belarus overturned a two-goal deficit to edge a thrilling encounter with nine-man Scotland, and remain firmly in the hunt for a berth in the UEFA Under-21 European Championship play-offs next month.

McCunnie own goal
After finding themselves two-goals down at the interval, the visitors appeared to be struggling for ideas until Jamie McCunnie scored an own goal 12 minutes after the restart. Both sides were reduced to ten men shortly afterwards after Christophe Berra and Sergei Kornilenko clashed, and Belarus made good use of the extra space, Leonid Kovel equalising before Mikhail Afanasiev scored what proved to be the winner with 19 minutes remaining.

Gallacher dismissed
By that stage Scotland were down to nine men after Blackburn Rovers FC striker Paul Gallacher was given a red card and the was no way back for Rainer Bonhof's side, who remain rooted to the foot of Group 5. The game ended on a far different note to the one it started on for the Scots, who found themselves in front after three minutes when Falkirk FC striker Darryl Duffy scored with a stunning volley.

Slovenia await
Gregor Robertson headed a second a minute before the interval and the home side looked to be well on their way to only their second win of the campaign before McCunnie put into his own net. Belarus went on to claim a hard-fought win to remain second, and should they beat Slovenia in Velenje on Tuesday, they will be assured of a play-off berth.