Scotland U19 1 Romania U19 0: Sbragia's side is drenched in talent as they ensure progress

Sports Writer

Friday 12 October 2012

A Scotland team at any age level making it through a qualifying group with a minimum of fuss is something to be treasured.

Islam Feruz falls to the sodden turf inside a drenched Falkirk Stadium but he still showed flashes of quality

Custom byline text:

Stewart Fisher

Heavy rain at the Falkirk Stadium last night made for aquatic conditions underfoot so it was fitting that a Herron should prosper amid such surroundings, a solitary first half-goal from Celtic's John sufficient to ensure Ricky Sbragia's Under-19 side clinched qualification for next March's elite round of the 2013 European Championships and the right to contest the continental finals in Lithuania next summer.

This group still has a long way to go if it wants to emulate the class of 2006, which finished runners up in the entire competition, but it clearly has no shortage of potential. Group Nine's concluding match with Switzerland in Falkirk on Sunday will only decide in which of the two qualification places the Scots will finish."I don't think they had lost in two years that Romania team – although we didn't tell that to the players," Sbragia said. "They were an exceptionally good team. And as much as we try to play football all the time, it doesn't always happen and credit to the players they dug really deep. "I've got an abundance of good players, they can beat anybody on their day. We had luck today but I think we deserved that. We will try to win the group because it helps with the seeding but when you get to the elite round there are no easy games."Conditions yesterday certainly made a contrast to those being experienced by the Under-21s in Marbella. The hours leading up to the match brought rain of biblical proportions down on the Falkirk stadium, ground staff sweeping rivers of rain away from the technical areas although the pitch itself held up remarkably well. True to his word, Sbragia made a solitary change to the side which beat Armenia 4-0 in Hamilton on Tuesday night, bringing in Aberdeen's Ryan Fraser – the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month for September – into his line-up for a debut at this level at the expense of Everton's Matthew Kennedy. The youngster didn't last the match, being removed just before the hour mark with a recurrent muscle strain, but the plan had been to spring a surprise on the Romanians and it nearly came to fruition within minutes as the stocky winger seized on a loose pass to set up Rangers' Lewis MacLeod, whose shot had to be blocked.Romania, who by all accounts got the better half of a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opener, featured striker Claudiu Bumba of AS Roma, and he was at the heart of most of their threatening moments. Jack Hamilton, the Scotland goalkeeper, found the ball like a bar of soap when he went to claim his early corner, but there was no mistake from the Hearts youth when he was forced to dive full length to claim a skidding low shot from Dinamo Bucharest's Steliano Filip.Scotland weathered the storm and created a few counter thrusts of their own. Another burst from Fraser down the left and some quick feet from Islam Feruz led to a typically fierce shot from the Somali-born 17-year-old which whistled inches wide.The goal wasn't long delayed, though. Rangers' Barrie McKay delivered a perfect slide-rule pass for the on-rushing Herron, who held his nerve to finish well.Scotland had Hamilton to thank for going in at half-time a goal to the good, after he made a fine save from Filip, and Romania threw caution to the wind in the second period. Scotland captain Marcus Fraser almost made it 2-0 when his header was hacked clear and late chances fell to Joe Chalmers and Thomas Reilly but one goal was more than enough for Scotland.

Contextual targeting label:

Sport

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Scotland U19 1 Romania U19 0: Sbragia's side is drenched in talent as they ensure progress

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED