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Scotland U21 vs Albania Under 21s. European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group J.

Attendance3,080.

Scotland U21 5

    Albania Under 21s 2

      Scots cruise to U21s win

      Image: Maguire: On target

      Scotland Under 21s completed back-to-back wins over their Albanian counterparts after a 5-2 victory.

      Stark's youngsters run riot against Albania

      Scotland Under 21s completed back-to-back wins over their Albanian counterparts after a 5-2 victory at the Falkirk Stadium. Fresh from a 1-0 win in Albania on Saturday, Billy Stark's youngsters were in free-scoring mood back on home soil. David Goodwillie opened the scoring for the Scots, while Chris Maguire, Andrew Shinnie, Jamie Murphy and Stephen McGinn also got in on the act. Buoyed from their weekend victory abroad, the hosts made a composed start to the game and created the first chance after three minutes. Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield, looking to impress on his home ground, did well to create room for a cross that was collected by Goodwillie but the marksman could not get his shot away quickly enough. Albania were content to allow the Scots to dominate possession of the ball in the midfield before mustering their first chance of the game in the 13th minute. Jahmir Hyka cut inside Shinnie on the left flank before dragging a right-footed shot wide of Alan Martin's goal from 25 yards. Hyka was involved five minutes later when his shot inside the area cannoned off Thomas Scobbie. From the rebound, Emilian Vila hit a looping effort straight at Martin, which the Leeds shot-stopper easily dealt with.

      Rose from lethargy

      Scotland finally rose from their lethargy 10 minutes from the interval when Arfield headed just wide from Maguire's cross. And, seconds later, the home side took the lead when Goodwillie raced away from the Albania defence before rifling the ball through the goalkeeper's legs. Maguire knocked a pass into the Dundee United striker and he got a lucky break of the ball to get round his markers. Scotland doubled their lead in the 51st minute with a sweeping move that saw Maguire pass the ball into the empty net from close range. Goodwillie set the lively Barry Bannan free on the flank and the Aston Villa winger cleverly waited for the goalkeeper to rush from his goal before squaring the ball for Maguire. With the Albanians assessing the damage caused by Maguire's strike, Stark's side added a third two minutes later. Maguire's ferocious shot from the inside the box was knocked into the path of Shinnie by keeper Shpetim Mocka and the Rangers midfielder swept the ball into the net. The visitors responded with a long-range effort from Hyka that beat Martin in the 72nd minute. Scotland restored their three-goal lead through substitute Murphy two minutes later when the Motherwell striker headed Shinnie's near-post cross into the net. With minutes left, Vila pulled another consolation goal back for the away side but substitute Stephen McGinn added a fifth for Scotland in injury time with an audacious backheel inside the area.

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