Scotland women trounce Albania in UEFA qualifier

Scotland Women’s National Football Team defeated Albania 3-0 in their UEFA 2022 qualifier match.

Scotland, in need of a win to maintain pressure upon the group’s current top side, Finland, made sure there were no excuses come 90 minutes.

In this game, their first since last October due to COVID-19, Scotland came out guns blazing, immediately putting the Albania defence under immense pressure.

The Albanian goalkeeper was on her toes after only three minutes as Jane Ross was put through on goal only for the opponent’s netminder to sweep the ball away from her feet. The game was immediately one-sided as the Scots were adamant that they would maintain momentum until a breakthrough was gained.

Scotland entered halftime with a 1-0 lead over Albania

Caroline Weir tested the Albanian goal on a number of occasions inside the first 15 minutes without any luck, though Scotland almost broke the deadlock on the 17th minute after a deep corner from Claire Emslie. The ball headed back across goal and into the danger area by Hannah Godfrey which was only half-cleared by the Albanian defence to Erin Cuthbert on the edge of the box. Cuthbert’s snapshot then rattled off the crossbar with the keeper well beaten before bouncing behind for a goal kick.

Just four minutes later, team captain Rachel Corsie opened the scoring after the visitors failed to deal with a cross from the right, but the referee’s assistant flagged for offside.

On the 37th minute mark it was down to Corsie again as she latched onto a free-kick by Weir at the front post and beautifully headed the ball into the net from six yards to make it 1-0. This was also Weir’s 17th international goal for Scotland.

Scotland maintained the pressure upon Albania right from the turn of the half, though without clear cut chances troubling the keeper. It wasn’t long before Scotland’s second goal came though, after some fine play on the 76th minute as Cuthbert played a ball off for Weir who was lurking menacingly at the edge of the box.

Scotland entered halftime with a 1-0 lead over Albania

Her shot, which had taken a deflection off the hapless defender, eventually ended up in the back of the net making it 2-0 to Scotland and also giving them a comfortable lead going into the final ten minutes.

On the last kick of the ball, it was then down to Weir, who was also awarded the player of the match, to put away a well-taken penalty in injury time after Martha Thomas was fouled in the box.

The match ended 3-0 to Scotland and national confidence had been restored by the women’s team.

Scotland will next play against Finland on Tuesday, October 27.