In a crucial match for their Euro 2025 aspirations, the Scottish national women's football team emerged victorious against Serbia, securing a 1-0 win at Firhill Stadium.

This result not only boosts their chances of making it to the tournament in Switzerland next summer but also earns them promotion to Nations League A.

It was a tightly contested affair, with both teams struggling to show a clinical touch.

Aston Villa forward, Kirsty Hanson, netted the decisive goal from close-range - and she believes Scotland were worthy winners.

"It wasn't easy," she told BBC Alba after picking up the Player of the Match award. 

"But with the work that we've been putting in, I think we just deserved that, and we are over the moon to get it over the line. 

"We wanted to top the group and that's what we've done, but we've got another big job to come."

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Serbia started brightly, but it was Scotland who had the first notable attempt when Kirsty Smith's thunderous left-footed shot from 25 yards hit the underside of the crossbar.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the first half, but Violeta Slovic's free header from just a couple of yards out sailed over the bar after an inswinging free-kick from the left.

Scotland's perseverance paid off in the 39th minute when Lisa Evans released Erin Cuthbert down the right, and her low cross was met by Hanson, who tapped the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Serbia remained a threat throughout the match, and Jovana Damnjanovic came close to equalising just before the half-time whistle, but her shot from the edge of the box went just wide.

The second half saw both teams create chances, with Chelsea Cornet and Nicola Docherty coming close for Scotland, while Anastasija Ciric missed a golden opportunity to level the score for Serbia.

In the end, the Pedro Martinez Losa's side held firm, and Eartha Cummings produced a brilliant save to deny Jelena Cankovic's curling effort, ensuring that Scotland secured top spot in qualifying Group B2.

The narrow victory means Scotland will go into the Euro 2025 play-off draw on Friday as a seeded team, enhancing the probability of making it to the much-anticipated tournament in Switzerland next year.

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Asked for her assessment of the game, Hanson continued: "We knew Serbia were a very good team.

"They will come out, they will find different ways to exploit maybe our weaknesses, but we were patient and we just fought every battle, and I think everyone won their one vs ones today.

"I'm just proud to be part of this team, but I think we played the Scotland way today.

"Everyone's got to put the work in. There's players who maybe don't come in, who work so hard for the team that you don't see because they don't get the minutes.

”So, it's just about making them proud and making sure the fans had something to celebrate tonight, and we did that."