Scotland's women got their UEFA qualifying campaign back on track at Livingston yesterday with a crushing 5-1 win over Ukraine. This result is all the more pleasing reading when you consider the team went a goal down early in the game. Scotland had to win to recover from the loss in their opening game against Germany. Things did not look as if they were going to go to plan when Khodyryeva opened the scoring in 20 minutes with a shot from just inside the box. Thankfully, Scotland equalised just over 15 minutes later when debutant Julia Ralph fired home a cross from Julie Fleeting.
Ukraine tired in the second half, and Scotland capitalised on their greater strength and went 2-1 up in 66 minutes. Fleeting was again the supplier of the cross with Linda Brown putting the ball into the net. In the last 15 minutes, Fleeting earned herself the match ball as she netted a further three goals, in 75, 86 and 89 minutes. Game over as the saying goes. The next game may not be so easy as Scotland head for Portugal on 7 June for another tough qualifier.
