Che Adams scores winner in Scotland victory
The saving grace was Gilmour. Twice he waltzed past a couple of defenders to get shots on target. The international newcomer constantly demanded the ball and was the focal point of Scotland's play before a shocking high challenge from Olivier Thill cut short his involvement.
Billy Gilmour’s sparkling cameo briefly lit up a routine win over 10-man Luxembourg in Scotland’s final warm-up game for Euro 2020.
The 19-year-old midfielder, a half-time substitute, impressed with composure and skill in his second cap before a heavy challenge forced him off as a precaution for the final 15 minutes.
Che Adams slotted Scotland’s early opener before Lyndon Dykes was pulled back by Vahid Selimovic on the edge of the box to earn the Luxembourg defender a 34th-minute dismissal.
Rangers’ right-back Nathan Patterson, 19, made his Scotland debut off the bench in the final half-hour as Steve Clarke’s side failed to turn their superiority into further goals.
Scotland open their first major tournament since 1998 against the Czech Republic at Hampden on 14 June.
As expected, Clarke shuffled his pack with seven changes from Thursday’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
Five of the six players who missed that game – a precautionary measure after John Fleck’s positive Covid-19 test – were in from the start, including David Marshall in goal and Adams winning his fourth cap up front.
A scattering of Scotland fans were among the limited attendance at Luxembourg’s national stadium and were treated to a lively opening before the red card rendered the friendly match a training exercise.
The saving grace was Gilmour. Twice he waltzed past a couple of defenders to get shots on target. The international newcomer constantly demanded the ball and was the focal point of Scotland’s play before a shocking high challenge from Olivier Thill cut short his involvement.
The gulf between the teams in the world rankings – Scotland are 52 places higher than Luxembourg in 96th – was not initially mirrored on the pitch.
The hosts, with Gerson Rodrigues impressive down the right, almost took an early lead when a corner fell to Selimovic and Marshall had to dive to his left to parry.
Scotland’s forward players began to prey on Luxembourg’s unconvincing defence and Adams and Dykes linked well. Both will be disappointed not to have added to Adams’ opener amid a glut of chances.
Dykes’ heavy touch prevented him knocking the ball home when goalkeeper Anthony Moris passed straight to him inside the box. The striker showed his aerial threat moments later, glancing Andrew Robertson’s whipped delivery on to the post.
Adams got his connection all wrong from another left-wing cross, only to quickly make amends with a slotted finish under Moris to open the scoring after a fine burst into the box and lay-off from Dykes.
Another combination from Scotland’s front two prompted the game’s turning point on 34 minutes. Adams released Dykes to bear down on goal, with Selimovic’s foul leaving the referee with no choice but to show red.
It was a dismissal Clarke and his players could have done without as they fine-tune for the finals.
Scotland, with fresh impetus provided by Gilmour, laid siege to the Luxembourg goal after the break only to be let down by their finishing.
John McGinn – in an unusually quiet performance – had a shot saved saved and Gilmour pounced on the scraps, taking out two men with one dazzling move to hammer in a shot that was parried away by Moris.
Adams thought he had doubled his tally when he headed powerfully into the net, only to be penalised for a push.
Dykes was kicking himself after nodding just past the far post and McTominay was next to send a header creeping wide as Scotland head to the Euros with a narrow win.
