for Scotland U19s

UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round Ukraine 0-0 Scotland Saturday, 24th May 2014, kick-off 7.30pm Burton Albion Stadium, Burton

from www.scottishfa.co.uk

Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna and Cammy Smith were in action on Saturday night but a missed penalty meant Scotland failed to take the chance to get their Elite Group in England off to the perfect start.

Ricky Sbragia’s kids were dominant in Burton on Trent, but failed to take any of their numerous chances.

Now Scotland must pick themselves off for a clash with the Auld Enemy England at the same venue on Monday, after the hosts opened their campaign with a 6-0 hammering of Montenegro in the group’s other game.

A torrential downpour before the game made conditions tricky, but the Scots started very brightly and Celtic’s Liam Henderson had an ambitious crack at goal in the opening period which sailed over.

The Celtic midfielder was closer though in the 13th minute when he curled an effort just wide of target after Cammy Smith drove forward from midfield to set him up.

Scotland skipper King came close to opening the scoring after 20 minutes when he crashed a 25 yard effort just wide with Ukraine keeper Roman Pidkivka beaten.

Scotland missed a great chance five minutes later when Smith’s cross was flicked on by Denny Johnstone, Henderson left the ball for Ryan Gauld with only the keeper to beat, but the Dundee United wonderkid’s effort was weak and straight at the keeper from just ten yards out.

Celtic striker Johnstone forced a save from Pidkivka and Gauld came close to making amends when he took hold of the rebound and skipped through only to be denied by a diving save from the busy Ukrainian keeper.

Then Johnstone headed a Henderson free kick over as Scotland continued to fail to take their chances.

And they nearly paid for those misses before the break when Ukraine almost netted with their couple of attacks of the match when Yevhen Chumak’s free kick whizzed just wide, before

Roman Yaremchuk hit the post with a cross and Maksym Banasevych somehow volleyed the rebound wide right in front of goal.

And Scotland missed the biggest chance of the lot eight minutes after the break when King missed a penalty.

Gauld – who was increasingly becoming an influence – was tripped by Pavlo Lukyanchuk as he darted into the box. But the Swansea City youngster’s spot kick was very poor and keeper Pidkivka easily saved it.

In fairness, the miss didn’t really deflate the Scots and Gauld flashed a shot just wide.

But the Scots were unable to break through Ukraine’s well-organised defence and had to settle for a disappointing point.

Scotland: Fulton (GK), Sinnamon; Souttar, Hyam, McKenna; Henderson, Smith (Nicholson 66), Lindsay; King (Capt), Johnstone (Cardwell 46), Gauld.

Subs not used: Kelly (GK), McLennan, Petrie, Telfer.