THE stock of Kevin McDonald continues to rise and rise. The midfielder has been a pivotal figure in Dundee's surge for promotion to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and carried that impressive form on to the international stage with a thunderous strike that earned the Scotland Under-21s a vital victory over their Finnish counterparts.
The result leaves Billy Stark's side five points behind their vanquished opponents in the race to qualify for next summer's European Championships but having played a game fewer. The Finns, who came into this tie with a maximum haul from their first five matches, will remain the favourites to conclude Group 6 in top place but this victory at least keeps alive Scotland's flickering chances of ousting them in their remaining three matches to reach the play-offs.
Scotland's next qualifying match is away to Lithuania in August, a match in which Stark must do without Steven Naismith and Jamie Hamill, both of whom picked up unnecessary bookings during a combative encounter. It was the sole disappointment on an impressive competitive managerial debut for Stark, who can take great encouragement from a battling performance against superior opposition.
The importance of the match for Scotland was not reflected by the numbers scattered sparsely throughout three stands. More than 20,000 had ventured out for Aberdeen's recent UEFA Cup match with Bayern Munich and yet, given the chance of watching the next crop of Scottish talent performing on their doorstep, only 3240 could be persuaded through the Pittodrie doors. The 5.30pm kick-off was a mitigating factor in the low turn-out, giving further credence to the notion that if it moves, Sky Sports will probably broadcast it live regardless of the inconvenience it causes to the paying public.
Up against top televisual treats such as The Weakest Link and Neighbours, it was hard to imagine too many tuning in across the Home Counties, although those who resisted the urge to flick through the channels were rewarded with a high-tempo and evenly-balance contest. In fairness, neither goalkeeper was overly worked but the way that both sides tried to zip the ball about on a rutted pitch was quite easy on the eye.
Stark could never be described as a football pioneer but it was refreshing to see a manager send out his young charges in a positive 4-3-3 formation. Shorn of the talents of Steven Fletcher, 300 miles south awaiting his full debut, Stark could still field a promising attacking triumvirate.
It was another Hibernian striker, Ross Chisholm, who took the central role, although he was ably supported by Naismith and Ross McCormack, who regularly darted in from the flanks to add their presence in the Finnish penalty box. A lack of service from midfield and some solid defending from the robust Finns, however, meant the master plan did not always function as Stark would have hoped.
Finland, a land where ice hockey and baseball dominate the sporting headlines, has never qualified for a major football finals at full or under-21 level but this current crop seem certain to make the breakthrough. Their stand-out performer was Kasper Hamalainen, coached by Mixu Paatelainen at TPS Turku before his switch to Hibernian, but reportedly destined for a summertime switch to Serie A. His first-half goal will only have added further to that burgeoning reputation. There was an air of classy elegance in the manner in which he collected Pyry Karkkainen's pass just outside the Scotland penalty box before opening his body to sweep a shot high past Jamie MacDonald.
Scotland by then could boast a wonderful goal of their own. Hamill and Scott Arfield used McCormack as a decoy, the ball instead being laid back to Naismith, whose ferocious strike from around 25 yards took a helpful deflection before nestling in the corner of the net. It was a fine effort from the Rangers forward but would prove to be a rare test for Tomi Maanoja in the Finnish goal.
Graham Dorrans from Livingston was summoned midway through the second half to add his physique to the frontline as Scotland abandoned the patient passing approach for a more direct route to goal.
With time running out, the hosts grabbed a wonderful winning goal. McCormack was alert to McDonald making great strides unchecked down the right flank and found him with a precise free-kick. There was still plenty for the Dundee midfielder to do but a sublime first touch was bettered by a thumping right-foot finish beyond Maanoja from around 15 yards.
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