Last updated : 12 October 2010 By Ed_ScottishFitba
Iceland arriving with a start of a 2-1 lead from the first leg along with seven full internationalists would have put most sides off from being on the offensive from the off. However, Scotland were determined to make their visitors journey home a long unhappy one from Easter Road tonight and but for two world class goals, they would have done just that. Manager Billy Stark was having none of the 4-6-0 formation favoured by Craig Levein for the A side against the Czech Republic. His side were not wanting to just get a draw, they needed a win to progress. The first half belonged to Scotland as they tormented their visitors but failed to put the ball in the net. The second half was really controlled by the Icelanders and they scored two cracking goals to deny the young Scots a trip to Denmark. A marvellous goal from Chris Maguire, straight from the kick-off after Gylgi Por Sigurdsson's first goal, was not enough although he did bring Easter Road to it's feet.
Scotland were really up for the game from the off and tormented their visitors no end causing them to make unforced errors throughout the first half. Scotland harried and played some really entertaining football for most of the half with the only frustration being the indecisiveness in front of goal. Several time an odd decision was taken by the strike force when it would have been easier to put in an effort on goal. Twice there were clear chances with the goal just waiting to be filled by the ball as it propelled across the goalmouth. Scotland were to regret not taking advantage of the control they enjoyed in the first half. Barry Bannan and David Wotherspoon switching wings did much to confuse Iceland with Bannan in particular tormenting the defence with his close control. Scotland should have noted the shots from Aron Einar Gunnarsson in the first half as he was not afraid to take his chances when the defence gave him space.
Some strong words must have been said at half-time in Icelandic as they emerged and played like Scotland in the first half. It was they who dominated procession and controlled the game. Although Scotland had their chances, it was in the 73rd minute that the Easter Road crowd was silenced. There were rumbling of discomfort on the hour mark as Scotland had failed to score but silence fell across the crowd when Sigurdsson was given too much space to run at the defence from the left and took his chance just inside the box to beat Martin with a fine curing shot. With celebrations all round as far as Iceland were concerned, Maguire brought the crowd back to life with the third kick of the ball from the restart. Chris Murphy kicked-off by tapping the ball to his left where Maguire took one touch to put the ball where he wanted it before launching the ball goal wards as Arnar Darri Petursson scampered back to late to stop the ball landing in his net. All seats were emptied as the crowd rose to celebrate with the young Scots and they waited expectantly for another to level the scores over the two legs. However, it wasn't to be as just six minutes later Sigurdsson sent in another unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards. Scotland did have the ball in the net again before the end but the referee had blown for an infringement just outside the box against Scotland and he called play back for a free-kick which came to nothing. Scotland: Martin, Caddis, Wilson, Hanlon, Scobbie (Griffiths 83), Wotherspoon, Coutts, McGinn (Goodwillie 81), Bannan, Murphy (Templeton 86), Maguire. Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Perry, Marr, Cairney Booked: Maguire, Templeton Goals: Maguire 75.
Iceland arriving with a start of a 2-1 lead from the first leg along with seven full internationalists would have put most sides off from being on the offensive from the off. However, Scotland were determined to make their visitors journey home a long unhappy one from Easter Road tonight and but for two world class goals, they would have done just that. Manager Billy Stark was having none of the 4-6-0 formation favoured by Craig Levein for the A side against the Czech Republic. His side were not wanting to just get a draw, they needed a win to progress. The first half belonged to Scotland as they tormented their visitors but failed to put the ball in the net. The second half was really controlled by the Icelanders and they scored two cracking goals to deny the young Scots a trip to Denmark. A marvellous goal from Chris Maguire, straight from the kick-off after Gylgi Por Sigurdsson's first goal, was not enough although he did bring Easter Road to it's feet. 
Scotland were really up for the game from the off and tormented their visitors no end causing them to make unforced errors throughout the first half. Scotland harried and played some really entertaining football for most of the half with the only frustration being the indecisiveness in front of goal. Several time an odd decision was taken by the strike force when it would have been easier to put in an effort on goal. Twice there were clear chances with the goal just waiting to be filled by the ball as it propelled across the goalmouth. Scotland were to regret not taking advantage of the control they enjoyed in the first half. Barry Bannan and David Wotherspoon switching wings did much to confuse Iceland with Bannan in particular tormenting the defence with his close control. Scotland should have noted the shots from Aron Eina
Some strong words must have been said at half-time in Icelandic as they emerged and played like Scotland in the first half. It was they who dominated procession and controlled the game. Although Scotland had their chances, it was in the 73rd minute that the Easter Road crowd was silenced. There were rumbling of discomfort on the hour mark as Scotland had failed to score but silence fell across the crowd when 
touch to put the ball where he wanted it before launching the ball goal wards as Arnar Darri Petursson scampered back to late to stop the ball landing in his net. All seats were emptied as the crowd rose to celebrate with the young Scots and they waited expectantly for another to level the scores over the two legs. However, it wasn't to be as just six minutes later