Cymru began their UEFA #U17Euro Elite Round with victory over Scotland at Rodney Parade.
Goals in the opening 10 minutes for attacking duo Iwan Morgan and Gabriele Biancheri, followed by a second half strike for Iwan Morgan and a late own-goal earned victory for Craig Knight’s side. A late Bobby McLuckie brace was not enough to inspire a comeback for Scotland.
Cymru started brightly with Iwan Morgan cutting in from the left and firing at Callan McKenna who saved well. He made no mistake on his second attempt, controlling a Dylan Lawlor ball over the top brilliantly before picking out the top corner.
Scotland came close to equalising soon after, as Kit Margetson was on hand to save a well-hit Bailey Rice shot from outside of the box.
Cymru’s lead was doubled as Biancheri capitalised on a defensive error, finding the corner with the outside of his boot. He was unfortunate not to score his second shortly after but was denied of a tremendous goal by an outstretched McKenna.
Rory Macleod tested Margetson from the right-hand side, but the goalkeeper parried out for a corner which was dealt with by the Cymru defence.
Scotland came close to halving the deficit early in the second half as Macleod’s effort was cleared off the line by Rhys Thomas.
Iwan Morgan was first to react to McKenna’s dropped catch, tapping in Cymru’s third of the evening and his second in the process. He was denied of a hattrick minutes later, meting George Morgan’s cross with a volley that forced an excellent save out of McKenna.
Troy Perrett was next to come close to adding a fourth, as his left footed attempt struck the side netting after being played through by a perfectly weighted Biancheri through ball.
Scotland grabbed one back through McLuckie, turning in a cross at the back post. They then applied further pressure three minutes later, with McLuckie decreasing the deficit to a single goal with an attempt from the left-hand side which Margetson was unable to keep out at his near post.
Cymru restored their two-goal lead as Freddie Issaka’s strike deflected into the back of the net.
Craig Knight’s side next face Iceland at Dragon Park on Saturday afternoon (KO 4pm), with the game available to watch on Sgorio’s YouTube channel.
Scotland XI: Callan McKenna, Mitchell Frame, Dylan Smith, Bailey Rice (C), Lennon Miller (Jacob Macintyre 87’), Daniel Cummings, Rory Macleod (Ryan One 58’), Bobby McLuckie, Leyton Grant, Kyle Ure (Rudi Allan-Molotnikov 58’), Josh Dede.
GOALS: Bobby McLuckie (74’, 77’)
YELLOW CARDS: Josh Dede (57’)
Cymru XI: Kit Margetson, Rhys Thomas, Luey Giles, Daniel Cox, Dylan Lawlor, Charlie Crew (C), Troy Perrett (Alfie Tuck 69’), Joe Andrews (Jacob Cook 87’), Iwan Morgan (Freddie Issaka 75’), Gabriele Biancheri (Cody Twose 87’), George Morgan (Joe Hatch 69’).
GOALS: Iwan Morgan (3’, 51’), Gabriele Biancheri (9’), Freddie Issaka (89’)
YELLOW CARDS: George Morgan (60’), Joe Hatch (83’)
