Scotland U17 3-1 Belgium U17: Into Euro finals

Scotland’s colts have qualified for the eight-team European Under-17 Championship finals with a game to spare after coming from behind to defeat Belgium 3-1 at Cappielow Park.

Aidan Nesbitt: Scots equaliser. Picture: SNS

Scotland U17 3-1 Belgium U17

SCORER: Scotland: Nesbitt (44), Ballantyne (52), Sheppard (64). Belgium; Damraoui (28)

Cappielow Park, Greenock

The Scots, who started their Elite Group campaign with a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, found themselves a goal down after 28 minutes but rallied to book a trip to Malta in May for their first appearance at the finals since 2008.

FC Bruge’s Paolino Bertaccini was the creator of the Belgian goal when he set up a chance for his clubmate Dylan Damirou who finished well.

Celtic youngster Aidan Nesbit pulled Scotland level four minutes after the break when he slotted home and, with 52 minutes gone, a goal made in the north-east put Scotland ahead.

Dundee United’s Cameron Ballantyne rose to head home a Michael Kelly corner and substitute Jake Sheppard sealed the win, the Reading player scoring with his first touch of the ball on 68 minutes.

Another Parkhead babe, Calvin Miller, almost supplied the icing on the cake with a lob from 25 yards just before the end, but Belgian goalkeeper Quintijn Steelant finger-tipped the ball over.

Earlier in the day Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Romania 1-0 to move on to the three-point mark with the Romanians sitting on just one.

Scotland: McCrorie (GK), Wardrop, Breslin (c), Cameron, Nesbitt (Sheppard, 63), Kelly, Wighton (Miller, 77), Kiltie (Wright, 48), Hardie, Thomson, Ballantyne. Subs not used: Devlin (GK), Finnie, Boyd.