Scotland hold their nerve for play-off win over Czechia

Scotland twice came from behind to beat Czechia 3-2 at St Mirren’s Marbill Coaches Stadium and book a place in round two of the Women’s World Cup play-off 5-2 on aggregate.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg of the round one play-off in Pardubice on Friday night but having skipper Caroline Weir injured in the warm-up to be replaced by Claire Emslie, Melissa Andreatta’s side found themselves a goal down in the third minute when Czech full-back Denisa Vesela sent a shot from 30 yards soaring over helpless keeper Sandy MacIver.

That lead lasted only two minutes before Lauren Davidson clipped in an equaliser from 12 yards but the visitors steeled themselves again and in the 32nd minute captain Klara Cahynova headed in a corner from Michaela Khyrova.

Erin Cuthbert and Sophie Howard came on for the start of the second half and Scotland took control. In the 49th minute, Kathleen McGovern took advantage of a botched clearance by Czechia defender Lucie Bendova and with the keeper Barbora Votikova also out of position, she squeezed the ball in at the near post.

The goal seemed to deflate the visitors and Scotland increased their lead in the 72nd minute when Votikova spilled a cross from Cuthbert and Christy Grimshaw was on hand to lift the ball over the line.

It was another step towards the final in Brazil and next month the Scots will take on Sweden, who beat Lithuania 10-0 on the night and 15-0 on aggregate.