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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Scotland U21 suffer narrow Kazakhstan defeat which ends Euro 2025 qualification hopes

Scotland Under-21s faced a disappointing end to their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, suffering a 3-2 loss to Kazakhstan in Almaty.

In order to secure a second-place finish in Group B and a chance at the play-offs, Scot Gemmill’s team needed a victory over their hosts, combined with a favourable result from the match between Belgium and Hungary.

Kazakhstan struck first, with Aybar Abdulla unleashing a stunning long-range shot to put them ahead just before the half-hour mark.

Despite several outstanding saves from Kazakhstan's goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, the Scots finally found a deserved equaliser when man of the moment Lennon Miller rifled an effort into the back of the net with a lovely finish from just inside the 18-yard box as the clock reached the hour.

(Image: Scottish FA) However, Scotland's fortunes took a turn for the worse less than five minutes later when Dane Murray received a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.


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Captain Adilbek Zhumakhanov capitalised on the situation, converting the resulting penalty to restore Kazakhstan's lead.

The home side extended their advantage in the 74th minute when substitute Yan Trufanov scored, leaving Scotland up against it.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen managed to pull one back with a well-placed header from Miller’s corner in the 86th minute after several chances were spurred, but it was too late to change the outcome.

To add to the disappointment, Belgium fell to Hungary 1-0, leaving Scotland in third place, with Spain topping the group.

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