Scotland's Euro 2022 hopes ended by 1-0 defeat by Finland
- Published
Scotland will not feature at the finals in 2022
Scotland's Women's Euro 2022 dreams are over after Amanda Rantanen's crushing stoppage-time goal gave Finland a shock victory at Easter Road.
The Scots were hoping to go to within a point of the Finns and threatened through Jennifer Beattie and Kim Little in the first half.
But they spurned a glut of chances through Martha Thomas, Lisa Evans and Caroline Weir after the break, while Zoe Ness was denied by Tinja-Riikka Korpela before Rantanen consigned the Scots to a third straight 1-0 defeat.
Shelley Kerr, who missed a second match because of Covid-19 protocols, had taken Scotland to last year's World Cup but her side are now seven points off Portugal and leaders Finland with games in Cyprus and at home to the Portuguese still to come in February.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The mission was clear for Scotland. Three wins from three and at least a play-off place would be secured. Even a draw in Edinburgh would have kept their hopes alive.
After a nervous opening from the hosts, they began to gain some territory and Evans' dangerous shot was deflected over.
Beattie rose at a corner and her powerful header was clutched on the line by goalkeeper Korpela, who then held Little's shot from the edge of the box.
In the second half, Thomas should have scored when she headed high and wide from Evans' cross and Evans missed her kick when found in the six-yard box by Little.
Erin Cuthbert and Kirsty Smith were too high with long-range efforts as Finland, coached by former Scotland boss Anna Signeul, looked ever more content to take a point.
Ness watched an effort touched by wide by Korpela then Ness and Weir could not convert when the ball pinballed around a packed penalty area.
As Scotland piled players forward in the fourth minute of added time, Finland broke clear with Rantanen clean through. Her first shot was blocked by Lee Alexander but the ball ricochet off the substitute's face into the net to break Scottish hearts.
Player of the match - Jennifer Beattie
Beattie (centre) made an important interception early on and her distribution was superb when Scotland built from the back
'We weren't clinical enough' - reaction
Scotland midfielder Kim Little: "We're incredibly disappointed. Three 1-0 results and ultimately we've not been good enough, we've not put the ball in the back of the net.
"We have to take responsibility for that. We had chances, a lot of the. We weren't clinical enough."
Scotland assistant coach Andy Thomson: "I really feel for the players, their effort was outstanding. Some of their play was really good.
"However, in that box, the that final third, you need to take your chances. You create chances to score, if you don't, you leave yourself open for what happened and we don't deserve it."
What's next?
Scotland visit Cyprus then host February, with the dates still to be finalised.
Anton Ferdinand: Football, Racism and Me: How the John Terry incident drove him to tackle the problem in the game
Rugby League's Great British Lions: Follow a behind the scenes look at their return tour down under
