Scotland Under-21s went down to a 2-0 defeat against the Czech Republic in their opening 2027 European Championship qualifier in Uherske Hradiste.
The hosts shaded the first half and led at the break through a header from Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kricfalusi.
And they doubled their lead midway through the second period when Dordrecht forward Yannick Eduardo notched a penalty at the third attempt after Scotland’s substitute goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams had saved two spot-kicks from different takers, but was penalised – dubiously in the second instance – for straying off his line on both occasions.
Head coach Scot Gemmill – adapting to life without the likes of Ben Doak, Tommy Conway, Kieron Bowie, Connor Barron, Lennon Miller, Cieran Slicker, Max Johnston and Josh Doig – gave debuts to Aston Villa’s Aidan Borland and Grimsby’s Cameron Gardner.
The Czechs signalled their intent when Lukas Ambros got in on the left and rasped a low shot beyond the far post with less than a minute on the clock.
The hosts threatened again in the 20th minute when Matej Sin slipped a pass through to Matyas Vojta who drove a low angled shot just beyond the far post from the edge of the six-yard box.
The breakthrough came for the hosts two minutes later as Kricfalusi rose to glance home Sin’s free-kick from the left.
Scotland suffered a further blow in the 36th minute when Hearts keeper Liam McFarlane was forced off after sustaining a head knock following a collision with Lukas Masek. Dundee United keeper Adams came on in his place.
Two further Scottish subs were introduced for the start of the second half, with Sam Cleall-Harding and Kristi Montgomery sent on for Jeremiah Mullen and Borland
Adams had to make a save from Vojta less than a minute after the restart, but the Scots started to grow into the match as an attacking force, with Daniel Kelly and James Wilson both spurning decent chances inside the box.
The visitors lost Gardner to injury on the hour but just as they looked to be in the ascendancy they fell further behind.
The Czechs were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when Montgomery fouled Mikulas Konecny as he tried to make a clearance in the box.
Kricfalusi’s spot-kick was saved by Adams, but the keeper was penalised for stepping off his line. The Czechs switched their kicker and incredibly Adams saved the retake from Vojta but was again deemed to have moved too early, much to the annoyance of coach Gemmill, who was booked for his protests.
The hosts finally scored at the third time of asking when Eduardo’s spot-kick squirmed beyond the unfortunate keeper.
Montgomery and Colby Donovan threatened in the closing stages for the Scots, who will aim to get their campaign up and running when they host Portugal at Fir Park on Tuesday.
