Belgium u212
Scotland u21 0
Scorers: Chatelle (25), Snelders (87)
THIS may well have been the first blemish during Rainer Bonhof's reign, but there was sufficient spirit and style on show, especially in the second half, to hearten the Scotland Under-21 coach.
He shrugged off the loss in Brussels, preferring to focus on the more meaningful matches ahead. The squad will reconvene in March for the resumption of the real stuff, the second part of a Euro 2004 qualification double-header against Iceland, and the German believes the team will benefit from this learning experience. Refereeing injustice, when a blatant foul on Peter Canero inside the Belgian penalty box with Scotland one goal down, went unpunished by local official Frederic Mercie, and their misery was compounded when a second home goal was scored soon after.
''It was a clear penalty but we also created five or six excellent chances and scoring them is what counts,'' said the manager. ''Now there is a long wait until the next game, but we will be ready.''
It was appropriate that the team's hotel was located in the heart of a industrial estate away from the Brussels bohemia. Typical Teutonic efficiency has been instilled by Bonhof, and the work ethic has been central to the early success enjoyed by his saplings. With just less than 300 fans intrigued by the visit, an eerily empty atmosphere belied Bonhof's belief that this was the most important game of his reign thus far. Judging by his comments afterwards, the result may have been no bad thing, providing a reminder of the need for total concentration.
Stuck in the centre of a housing scheme which makes Ruchazie seem opulent, the Stade Edmond Machtens (home of the KFC Strombeek) had a haunting antiquity. The Belgians, in blood-red garb, only added to the menace. Strapping to a man, this proved as physically testing as it was technically, but with the German by their side, there is not much to intimidate the young yet experienced Scots.
The five Old Firm representatives afield at kick-off have all enjoyed fleeting first-team involvement at club level, and form the backbone of Bonhof's budding stars. The subtle skills of Stephen Hughes and Shaun Maloney's perpetual motion in tandem with the stealthy Simon Lynch ensure flair and fluidity, while further back, Stephen Crainey and John Kennedy bring bristle and brawn.
For all their prettiness, purpose proved elusive during a first half of cat and mouse. For every fruitless foray forward, the Belgians broke ahead with greater intent. It was of little surprise that the hosts should reap the rewards for their rapier thrusts. Chris Doig, wearing his slicks on a stodgy surface, slipped at an inopportune moment, enabling Karel Garaerts to guide the ball into Thomas Chatelle. The captain, and top man as it transpired, circumnavigated Soutar and slotted home.
The finish met with the approval of an onlooking Belgian football legend, Luc Nilis, who was forced to end his career at Aston Villa after a leg break which also robbed him of a World Cup swan-song. In Chatelle, who earns his corn with RC Genk, Belgium may well have found an heir to the great man's throne.
The usual sprinkling of substitutions had an adverse effect on the entertainment, and while the Belgians bumped the ball about with some style, Scotland scratched and scrapped for an equaliser. It should have been forthcoming when Ian Murray made a surging run into the penalty box, but the captain contrived to send the ball soaring towards the tenement flats dominating the background.
Brian Kerr cut a cute ball into his path, and choosing power over precision, Murray's left boot mimicked a sand wedge.
Their improved efforts in the second half seemed destined to pay off, but delivering the crucial blow was beyond them. Canero and Kennedy acted out a Keystone Cops routine in front of goal, and their profligacy was to prove costly soon after the penalty incident, when Belgium put the result beyond doubt with a counter-attack.
Patrick Dimbala-Mawongo cut the ball across goal and Kristof Snelders showed sufficient composure with a shunt into an empty net.
Belgium U21 (4-4-2) Mardulier (Bourdon 45); Van Beuren, Deschacht, van Damme, Tucari; Chatelle, Geraerts, Mundingay (Swerts 45), Blondel; Huysegems (Snelders 45), De Beuele (Dimbala-Mawongo 75). Substututes: de Decker, Ingrao, Vangeffelen
Scotland U21 (3-5-2) Soutar (McGregor 45); Caldwell, Doig (Hammell 45), Kennedy; Duff (Canero 67), Kerr, Murray, Hughes (Pearson 68), Crainey; Maloney (McLean 85), Lynch (Boyd 45)
Substitute: Dowie
Referee F Mercie
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