Scotland Under-21s need to overcome a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their EURO2004 play-off, after losing 2-0 to Croatia Under-21s in Varazdin. Rainer Bonhof had to make do without injured first-choice keeper Derek Soutar, with Hearts' Craig Gordon deputising. Scotland made a disastrous start in the Varteks stadium as Marko Babic cracked home a volley from Mladen Petric's cut-back just on the seven minutes mark. Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Goran Ljubojevic clinically beat Gordon following Danijel Pranjic's cross. Scotland continued to struggle and nine minutes before the interval Gordon did well to tip away Petric's curling cross-shot.
After the break, sub Shaun Maloney pepped up the visitors' attack, with Brian Kerr firing an early shot wide of target. Gary Caldwell forced home keeper Tomislav Vranjic into a rare save, before Kevin Kyle headed straight at Vranjic from a clear chance. Skipper Ian Murray shot wide when well placed on the hour and Maloney drove a free-kick over the crossbar as the hosts earned a valuable first-leg advantage. Ljubojevic and Petric both could have added to the lead, but the result leaves Scotland with a mountain to climb in the return at Easter Road on Tuesday. Prices for the return leg are just £5 for adults and £2 for children. Tickets can be bought in advance at Safeway stores, or pay at the gate. Kick-off is 7.45 pm, and the match will also be shown live on Sky Sports.
Croatia U-21: Vranjic, Buljat, Pranjic, Drpic, Lucic, Jese, Safaric, Kranjcar, Ljubojevic, Babic, Petric
Subs: Sarlija, Linic, Mikulic, Gal, Brkic, Zgela, Zahora
Scotland U-21: Gordon, Caldwell, Hammell, McCracken, Kennedy, Kerr, Canero, Murray, Kyle, Stewart, McManus
Subs: McGregor, Duff, Williams, Hughes, Maloney, O'Connor, Lynch
Referee: Yuri Baskakov (Russia) | 