Scotland force way past dogged Luxembourg
Monday, March 25, 2013
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Scotland 3-0 Luxembourg
A stubborn Luxembourg side held out until first-half added time when Jamie Walker's wonderful volley set Scotland on course for victory.
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Jamie Walker's sublime volley set Scotland on course for a 3-0 victory against a stubborn Luxembourg side in the opening game of 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 3.
The home team struggled to break down the visitors in the first half in Paisley, and were set to go into the interval goalless when Walker connected sweetly to steer the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box. Celtic FC striker Tony Watt doubled the advantage midway through the second half, powering in an indirect free-kick, before Lewis Toshney added a third late on.
Toshney had come closest to breaking the deadlock in regulation time in the first half, firing against the upright, and it took a moment of individual brilliance to end the stalemate. Indeed, for all Scotland's sweet passing moves, with playmaker Stuart Armstrong pivotal, their other goals came from Steve Peiffer errors. First the goalkeeper was penalised for collecting a back pass, with Watt capitalising; then his fumble allowed Toshney to turn the ball in.