Scotland U19 4 - 3 Switzerland U19: Feruz hat-trick seals Scots win

Islam Feruz was the “perfect” hat-trick hero as Scotland’s under-19 side came from behind to make it three wins out of three and win their European Championship qualification group with a 4-3 success over Switzerland.

SCORERS:

Scotland Under-19 - Chalmers (16), Feruz (52, 73, 84)

Switzerland Under-19 - Frey (18, 55), Corbaz (38)

Coach Ricky Sbragia reckons that Scotland are now seeing the best of the Somalia-born front man as he explained: “We are now playing to Islam’s strengths as we understand how he wants to play the game. It is not always about how we want the team to play and to be honest we never really played to his strengths at an under-17 level.

“We are trying to do that at under-19 level and the service we put up to him was great in this game”

Scotland took the lead in 16 minutes after Cameron Smith was hauled down two yards outside the Swiss box. Joe Chalmers curled the free kick high into the net.

However, the advantage lasted only two minutes as Michael Frey slammed home the equaliser, and Corbaz put the Swiss ahead shortly before half-time.

Seven minutes after the break it was 2-2 when Chalmers crossed from the left and Feruz finished with a powerful, well-placed header.

The Scots conceded quickly again when Frey scored from the edge of the box, but Feruz cracked a left-foot shot into the far corner on 73 minutes before curling a right-foot shot high into the postage stamp corner six minutes from time.

Switzerland also qualified on goal difference after Romania only defeated Armenia 1-0 at New Douglas Park in a game delayed for 10 minutes after a mix-up over national anthems.