Scotland Under-21s missed out on next Year’s European Championships after a frustrating 90-minutes in Athens last night.
Former Hibs’ winger Glenn Middleton and Connor McLennan returned to the starting XI and Scotland dominated the early period with the best chance falling to Fraser Hornby.
Greece went ahead against the run of play in the 27th minute when Alexandros Katranis broke down the wing to cross and Efthymis Christopoulos slotted the ball beyond Ross Doohan.
Just before the break Middleton shot narrowly wide then shortly after the restart Barry Maguire went close.
In the 72nd minute Celtic’s David Turnbull replaced Maguire and immediately had an opportunity but his effort went over the bar.
Scotland continued to press forward but the Greeks looked dangerous on the break and Doohan was called into action to dent them a second goal.
Czech Republic won the qualification group, with Scotland finishing two points behind them, in third.
Greece: Siampanis, Apostolakis, Katranis (Captain), Evangelou, Diamantis (Konstantopoulos, 54), Tsiggaras, Ioannidis (Koutsias, 73), Machairas (Emmanouilidis, 81), Papanikolaou, Botos (Bouzoukis, 81), Christopoulos (Lolis, 73)
Unused substitutes: Tzolakis, Vrousai, Tsingaras, Oues
Scotland: Doohan, Harvie, Porteous, Johnston, Campbell, Hornby, Middleton (Fiorini, 72), Maguire (Turnbull, 72), McLennan, Ferguson, McCrorie (Captain)
Unused substitutes: Kinnear, Robby McCrorie, Reading, Patterson, McIntyre, Welsh, Mayo
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
