Four-star Scotland ease past Trinidad
Monday, May 31, 2004
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AFP): Scotland enjoyed
a comfortable 4-1 friendly international win against Trinidad and Tobago at
Easter Road here Sunday as they finished a tough season on a high.
Goals from Darren Fletcher, Gary Holt, Gary
Caldwell and Nigel Quashie put Scotland 4-0 up at half-time.
Unsurprisingly, the second period was
something of a let down for the home side with Trinidad pulling a goal back
through Stern John.
But for Scotland it was a second win in a
week following their 1-0 victory away to Estonia on Thursday.
Fletcher opened the scoring in the
sixth-minute, Holt headed his first Scotland goal in the 14th, Caldwell
claimed the third from a corner in the 22nd and Portsmouth's Nigel Quashie,
the former England B international, netted 10 minutes before half-time.
It was Birmingham striker John, however, who
completed the scoring in the 55th minute.
Scotland went ahead when James McFadden's
neat penalty-box backheel left Fletcher clear.
Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, making his
Scotland debut at arch-rivals Hibernian's home ground, then helped initiate
the move that led to the second goal with a huge punt downfield.
The ball found Stevie Crawford and he in
turn laid the ball out to Fletcher on the right flank.
The Manchester United man's cross to the
back post was met by the charging Holt, who collided with the keeper as he
headed home.
Fletcher was also involved with Scotland's
third, his corner to the far post causing problems with Caldwell claiming the
goal although it looked as if it was Trinidad's Ian Cox, who plays in England
for Gillingham, who got the last touch.
Quashie's goal was a fine finish from the
midfielder, who found the target from 25 yards, after Crawford's shot had been
blocked.
But 10 minutes into the second half John
ensured Trinidad got on the scoresheet when he turned in a cross from
Wrexham's Carlos Edwards.
Malky Mackay protested that John had fouled
him in the box but Dutch referee Peter Vink was happy to let the goal stand.
McFadden, Scotland's goalscorer in Tallinn,
then missed completely from six yards out while, at the other end, Gordon made
a good save to keep out Trinidad substitute Andre Boucaud.
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
