Scotland finally rediscover their scoring touch with 10-0 rout away to Cyprus

It certainly wasn’t a case of too little for Scotland as they smashed in ten goals without reply in their Euro 2021 clash with Cyprus in Larnaca, but unfortunately they’ve discovered their scoring touch too late to salvage anything from the current qualifying campaign.
Caroline Weir scored the pick of the bunch. Picture: GettyCaroline Weir scored the pick of the bunch. Picture: Getty
Caroline Weir scored the pick of the bunch. Picture: Getty

The irony is almost cruel, which typically isn’t something you’d say about a side who’ve hit double-digits in a game, but it’s fair to say every single member of the victorious squad would rather have shared those goals around their previous three matches, when they were beaten 1-0 to Portugal and Finland twice, eliminating the top seeds from contention with two games still to be played.

On the positives, at least this thumping should act as a confidence booster for the managerless side going forward. They’ll have the opportunity to rediscover even more of that swagger when Portugal come to Scotland this coming Tuesday.

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Under the midday sun in Larnaca, Scotland started the scoring early and didn’t let up until the tenth had been struck with 16 minutes remaining.

Erin Cuthbert kicked things off in the 11th minute before Martha Thomas added a header in the 23rd. Caroline Weir then made it 3-0 a short-time later, finishing off a weaving run with a cool flick over the diving goalkeeper.

Kirsty Hanson got in on the act in the 29th minute shortly before Cuthbert netted her second of the game, firing a shot with enough power to squirm away from the home keeper.

Lizzie Arnot started the scoring in the second period before substitute Claire Esmlie diverted a Jane Ross header into the back of the net at close range.

Ross herself tucked away a penalty after Nicola Doherty was fouled. That was followed just a minute later by Thomas striking her second of the match. The attacker fizzed in a shot at the front post after charging into the box from the left flank.

Ross became the third Scot to net a double in the match when she completed the scoring three minutes later.

This was the first game in charge for interim boss Stuart McLaren, who was announced as the short-term successor to Shelley Kerr for the final two matches of the group.

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