Conway on target as Scotland Under-21s lose narrowly in Turkey

Turkey 2-1 Scotland
Under-21 International Friendly
Monday, 3 June 
Kasımpaşa Stadium, Istanbul

Scorers

Turkey 2 (25′ Bertug Yıldırım, 45′ Enis Destan)

Scotland 1 (18′ Conway)

Team News

Scotland were forced to make six changes from their last game against Kazakhstan in March with Ibane Bowat, Josh Doig, Connor Barron, Max Johnston, Leon King and Kieron Bowie all absent. 

David Watson started in midfield for his Under-21 debut, while Azeem Abdulai and Connor McAvoy were both included in the starting line up for the first time in over a year. Adam Devine, Josh Mulligan and Dire Mebude also came in from the off.

As It Happened

Scotland started well and Tommy Conway was the first to come close when he was sent through in the 8th minute and forced a fine save from Troyes keeper Dogan Alemdar.

However, the hosts were very wasteful in front of goal missing several big chances although it took a fantastic save from Scotland’s Cieran Slicker to keep out a dipping, long range effort from Bartug Elmaz.

The young Scots stunned their hosts when they took the lead in the 18th minute when Conway nodded back across goal to wrongfoot the goalkeeper from a brilliant cross from Lewis Fiorini.

The hosts would equalise in the 25th minute though when Rennes striker Bertug Yıldırım netted from close range with Scotland claiming for offside.

Conway had another strike ruled out for offside when he volleyed home in the first half.

But just when it seemed Scotland would get to half time, Enis Destan headed in from a corner in the last minute of the first half.

Slicker made another fine stop just after the interval from a free-kick from Elmaz before another one from point blank range from Livan Burcu.

Conway had a decent claim for a penalty turned down when he produced a wide run into the box, but Yasin Ozcan’s challenge was deemed fair.

Blackpool’s Robert Apter was handed a first cap as a sub, along with Aberdeen’s Jack Milne.

Motherwell’s Lennon Miller also made his debut later on and the midfielder wasn’t far away from making a spectacular impact when he lobbed a free kick just over.

Apter came close to levelling with nine minutes left too with a low shot that was smothered by keeper Alemdar.

And he came even closer with a curling effort from 25 yards that was brilliantly tipped around the post by the home keeper at full stretch as the Scots had a real go at getting a leveller but it was not to be.

Next Up

Scotland Under-21s are back in action on Friday with another friendly against Austria in Wiener Neustadt.

Teams

Scotland: Slicker, Mulligan, Abdulai, Morrison, McAvoy, Devine, Cameron, Watson, Fiorini, Mebude, Conway

Unused Substitutes: Newman, Angelini