Scotland: exciting match, but Scotland loses to Spain at the World Junior Women’s World Cup

Spain 2-0 Scotland

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

The first chance went Scotland’s way early on when Mhairi Low won the ball and charged into the circle, but her final effort went wide of the left post.

Then Cat Nelli cut into the circle from the left baseline and blasted a fierce effort towards the bottom right corner, but Carlota Alvarez’s outstretched leg in goal sent the ball high into the air.

The Scots controlled the opening of the match, but Spain took the lead in the match as the quarter drew to a close, and were hampered by the frame of the goal after a slick attack down the right.

The tables were turned as Spain took the lead early in the second quarter when Anna Gardsjord found the net after struggling from a penalty corner to make it 1-0.

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

Scotland almost scored an equalizer in the last minute of the half. Marianna Maclean raced down the right and picked out Nelli who dived in, but her deflection went wide of the left post.

The Scots started the second half as they started the first and quickly created a number of dangerous chances, the nearest of which was denied to Maclean by a save under the crossbar.

Spain took second place in the latter stages of the match as Scotland struggled to clear the ball and Victoria Madariaga scored a low effort into the bottom left corner for 2–0.

Scotland held their own in terms of play, but could not find the net and Spain took the points. The Scots now face Canada in their second pool match on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.