Scotland Under-21s swept aside by Portugal at Fir Park

Scotland Under-21s’ hopes of making it to the 2027 European Championship suffered another early blow after a 2-0 defeat by Portugal at Fir Park left them bottom of their qualification group.

Scot Gemmill’s side were handed a formidable start in their quest to make it to a first major tournament since 1996, with an away game against the Czech Republic last Friday followed by a home match against a Portuguese side who reached the quarter-finals of the Euros this summer.

The visitors demonstrated their class and superiority in Motherwell as Rodrigo Mora and Roger Fernandes secured a comfortable victory and ensured the Scots signed off from their opening double-header with no points and no goals to show for their efforts, leaving them below minnows Gibraltar at the foot of the six-team section.

Head coach Gemmill made five changes to the side that started the 2-0 defeat by the Czech Republic, including handing first starts to Rangers winger Findlay Curtis and Blackburn midfielder Kristi Montgomery – both of whom made their debuts off the bench on Friday.

The Portuguese fielded an array of talent, including £40m West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes and 18-year-old Porto sensation Mora.

It was Mora who made the breakthrough for the visitors when he headed home a cross from Sporting winger Geovany Quenda in the 20th minute.

The slick Portuguese were worthy of their lead but Scotland let them off the hook two minutes before the break when Adedire Mebude shot straight at goalkeeper Joao Carvalho after being teed up 10 yards out by Montgomery.

The visitors started the second half with purpose and Diogo Travassos and Roger Fernandes both threatened with strikes from the edge of the box.

Scotland were ruthlessly punished for a mistake in the 55th minute when Montgomery relinquished possession just outside his own box and Gustavo Varela and Mora combined to set up Al-Ittihad forward Roger Fernandes, who smashed home an emphatic finish from 12 yards out.

The hosts were given some reprieve when Matheus Fernandes was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 72nd minute, but despite enjoying more of the ball thereafter, they were unable to find a way back into the match as they went down to a fifth defeat in six outings.