10th October 2019 Scotland U21 v Lithuania U21 0-0
I had not intended going to this game but after a surfeit of the Rugby World Cup on television decided I need a live football fix. The match was a Tynecastle and I bought a ticket earlier in the week when I was at Tynecastle buying a ticket for the match at Livingston later this month. I knew Alex and Jim were going so I texted Alex to find out which area they were sitting in so would could try and meet up. Alex did not know as Jim had bought the tickets. I therefore wandered down to Tynecastle to meet them outside the ticket office at 16.45. The kick-off was at the earlier time of 17.15 given the full Scotland international in Moscow was on television at 19.45. While we were sitting in different area stewards said as we went in we could sit anywhere in the Main Stand. We therefore grabbed three seats in section R on the halfway line about twenty-five rows up. Surprisingly the match programmes were free although they were only eight page issues.
Scotland had made a good start in the U21 European Championship qualifiers with wins over San Marino and Croatia before tonights game. Unfortunately given the match was being played at Tynecastle there were no Hearts players in the squad. There was however Edinburgh representation with Ryan Porteous and Glenn Middleton (on loan from the Rangers) both being part of the Hibs first team squad. Scotland also included Billy Gilmour who left Rangers to join Chelsea and recently made his first team debut in a Caraboa Cup match. There were no familiar names in the Lithuanian line-up despite Hearts having links with the country in the past. I did wonder if winger Eligijus Jankauskas was related to former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankaukas but a Google search could not provide any confirmation.
Scotland started the game well with Middleton looking effective down the left. However the first chance came after a corner on the right which George Johnston flicked on and Fraser Hornby’s effort was blocked by Titas Krapikas. Krapikas then flapped at a header from Porteous after another corner. The keepers’ clearance went straight back to Porteous who headed back strongly but the keeper managed to touch this effort over the bar. Middleton had an attempt with a free-kick from outside the area but Krapikas managed to palm the ball away from another corner.
In the second half the standard of play deteriorated as the weather worsened. Even sitting high in the main stand we felt some rain as it poured down on the pitch. The Lithuanian side defended well and Scotland were unable to make any clear chances. Scotland replaced Lewis Ferguson with his club mate Connor McLennan, who had scored both goals in the win in Croatia, in an effort to grab a winner. I think I had put a hex on Scotland when I said just after the start of the second half that if Scotland got one goal they would get a few more. Thankfully I had not put any money on them scoring. As the game approached the ninety minute mark Scotland made their best chance of the match when Middleton, on the right hand side, cut the ball back from the byeline to substitute Stephen Kelly. His shot from about fifteen years out was blocked by Krapikas. The announcer indicated that there would be five minutes of injury time and in the final minute Middleton was pulled down just outside the penalty box on the right hand side. He took the free-kick himself but his attempt to hit the far corner of the net was high and wide. the referee blew the final whistle nd the match ended 0-0.
Thankfully the rain had stopped by the end of the match and while Alex and Jim headed off home in Jim’s car I walked home to watch the full international side in action. i wish I had watched another channel after Russia ended up 4-0 winners.
Scotland had made a good start in the U21 European Championship qualifiers with wins over San Marino and Croatia before tonights game. Unfortunately given the match was being played at Tynecastle there were no Hearts players in the squad. There was however Edinburgh representation with Ryan Porteous and Glenn Middleton (on loan from the Rangers) both being part of the Hibs first team squad. Scotland also included Billy Gilmour who left Rangers to join Chelsea and recently made his first team debut in a Caraboa Cup match. There were no familiar names in the Lithuanian line-up despite Hearts having links with the country in the past. I did wonder if winger Eligijus Jankauskas was related to former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankaukas but a Google search could not provide any confirmation.
Scotland started the game well with Middleton looking effective down the left. However the first chance came after a corner on the right which George Johnston flicked on and Fraser Hornby’s effort was blocked by Titas Krapikas. Krapikas then flapped at a header from Porteous after another corner. The keepers’ clearance went straight back to Porteous who headed back strongly but the keeper managed to touch this effort over the bar. Middleton had an attempt with a free-kick from outside the area but Krapikas managed to palm the ball away from another corner.
In the second half the standard of play deteriorated as the weather worsened. Even sitting high in the main stand we felt some rain as it poured down on the pitch. The Lithuanian side defended well and Scotland were unable to make any clear chances. Scotland replaced Lewis Ferguson with his club mate Connor McLennan, who had scored both goals in the win in Croatia, in an effort to grab a winner. I think I had put a hex on Scotland when I said just after the start of the second half that if Scotland got one goal they would get a few more. Thankfully I had not put any money on them scoring. As the game approached the ninety minute mark Scotland made their best chance of the match when Middleton, on the right hand side, cut the ball back from the byeline to substitute Stephen Kelly. His shot from about fifteen years out was blocked by Krapikas. The announcer indicated that there would be five minutes of injury time and in the final minute Middleton was pulled down just outside the penalty box on the right hand side. He took the free-kick himself but his attempt to hit the far corner of the net was high and wide. the referee blew the final whistle nd the match ended 0-0.
Thankfully the rain had stopped by the end of the match and while Alex and Jim headed off home in Jim’s car I walked home to watch the full international side in action. i wish I had watched another channel after Russia ended up 4-0 winners.
Teams
Scotland: Doohan, McCrorie, Porteous, Johnston, Harvey, Ferguson, Campbell, Gilmour, Magennis, Hornby, Middleton.
Subs: McLennan, Kelly, Henderson.
Lithuania: Krapikas, Stockunas, Jankauskas, Marazas, Dubickas, Antanavicius, Uzela, Milasius, Kloniunas, Sesplaukis, Megelitas.
Subs: Sirvys.
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