SCOTLAND under-19s squandered a two-goal advantage at Cappielow on Wednesday night as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Belarus.
Rangers' Nathan Patterson, who was on the scoresheet in their 3-3 draw with Young Boys last week, opened the scoring in fortuitous circumstances with 12 minutes on the clock after his on-the-volley cross caught out the goalkeeper and the ball nestled into the back of the net.
WATCH | Nathan Patterson opens the scoring for Scotland at Cappielow in our opening UEFA Qualifying Round match.#SCO19s #YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/OG0ADZyWFy
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 9, 2019
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Josh McPake - currently on loan at Dundee from Rangers - was fouled in the box, and Ibrox youngster Dapo Mebude stepped up to convert the spot-kick to double the home side's advantage.
Belarus' Dmitri Prischepa pulled one back for the Eastern Europeans after 35 minutes and the two sides went in at the interval with the score at 2-1.
Shortly after the restart, Roman Davyskiba took advantage of some slack defending to bring the scores level.
WATCH | Dapo Mebude showed coolness under pressure as he scored a penalty to make it 2-0 to Scotland after 20 minutes.#SCO19s #YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/fbrZclv3y0
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 9, 2019
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Billy Stark's side pushed hard for an equaliser, bombarding the Belarusian goal as the clock wound down but were unable to find a breakthrough. In the game's dying moments, Scotland almost forced a winner as a visiting defender deflected a cross onto the crossbar but the match finished 2-2.
Midfielder Patterson was named as man of the match.
The result leaves Scotland in third place after the opening fixture of the under-19s European Championship qualifiers in a group that contains Belarus, Andorra and Germany.
The next match will take place at Dumbarton's C&G Systems Stadium on Saturday 12 October, where entry to the ground will be free.
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