Hendry and Nisbet score as Scotland draw with Netherlands

Scotland have drawn 2-2 with Netherlands in the first of their two friendlies ahead of the European Championships.

Jack Hendry and Kevin Nisbet both scored against the Dutch in the friendly in Portugal but a double from Memphis Depay meant Scotland had to settle for a draw after a creditable performance.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke saw his pre-match plans affected by the decision to leave six players back at the training base as a precaution after they had been in close proximity to John Fleck, who tested positive for coronavirus.

Clarke’s team saw David Turnbull make his debut, with James Forrest at right wing-back and Craig Gordon in goals and the side began brightly, pushing the Dutch to the edge of their own box as they tried to carve out early openings with Turnbull at the heart of things.

Denzel Dumfries had a half chance for Netherlands and Kieran Tierney kept Tim Krul on his toes with a fizzing shot from 25 yards but it was another defender who opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

Scotland pressed as the Dutch tried to play it out from the back and Stuart Armstrong won possession. Hendry took possession and strode forward before calmy striking a low sot into the corner of the net from just outside the box.

There was barely time to appreciate the goal before the Dutch were level. Georginio Wijnaldum headed the ball to the edge of the box and Depay found himself unmarked and with time to guide a dipping volley past Gordon.

The Dutch held slightly more possession but were denied clear opportunities, while Scotland closed down space and looked to break forward whenever given encouragement but the sides went in level at the break.

A scrappy start to the second period was lifted by a Scotland goal just after the hour mark.

Three changes had freshened up the team, with Nisbet, Ryan Fraser and Declan Gallagher replacing Lyndon Dykes, James Forrest and Liam Cooper.

A Dutch attack saw a cross headed clear by Robertson and when Ryan Christie carried the ball deep into the opposition half, he saw his captain sprinting past on the overlap. Robertson took the pass, swung in a perfect cross and Nisbet met it at the back post, cushioning the ball into the back of the net.

Netherlands pushed again for an equaliser and though Scotland thwarted them time and again, Depay had his say again with just two minutes to go. Given what looked like a soft free kick, he curled home a shot that left Gordon planted on both feet to level the score again.

Three minutes of stoppage time brought no more chances and Scotland took a creditable draw as the countdown to their major finals return continued.