Regardless of the journey, the outcome always seems to be, heartbreakingly, the same. Usually, it�s goal difference in one of its many manifestations but, on this occasion, away goals ended Scotland Women�s European Championship qualifying hopes.

Regardless of the journey, the outcome always seems to be, heartbreakingly, the same.

Usually, it's goal difference in one of its many manifestations but, on this occasion, away goals ended Scotland Women's European Championship qualifying hopes. A spirited 2-1 win - aren't they always? - in Russia was enough to haul the aggregate score back to 4-4 after a 3-2 first leg defeat but not enough to take them to the finals in Finland.

"We believed that we could win through and we deserved to on this performance as we dominated the match," said a downcast Anna Signeul, the coach. "We were down and out at half time and went for it in the second half.

"The last time we were here we lost 6-0 and we have improved so much. I spoke to the Russian manager who can not believe how much a better side we are now and how close they came to going out."

The victory against an essentially professional Russian side in front of a crowd of 13,500, while impressive, was ultimately pyrrhic. It was, of course, an own goal that did the damage in Nalchik, near the Georgian border. Ifeoma Dieke put through her own net after 20 dominant minutes from a Scottish side bolstered by the return of Julie Fleeting to the attack.

"We had absolutely no luck at all," bemoaned Signeul. "The Russians were clearing the ball off their goal line and we were missing chances by inches and then the ball deflects of Ifeoma's shin guard and flies into the top corner giving our goalkeeper no chance."

With the Scots needing three goals to advance after that, Signeul switched to a 3-4-3 formation in a desperate attempt to salvage something. A Pauline Hamill equaliser - adding to her two goals in the first leg - and a Michelle Kerr strike with five minutes remaining set up a frantic finale but, despite nine minutes of injury time, including a goalmouth scramble, the Scots could not force the decisive third goal.

"The crowd had started out as very hostile towards us, but by the end of the game they cheered us off the park," noted Signeul. "They knew that the better team had not won through."

It was ever thus.