Iceland U21 2 - 1 Scotland U21: Stark's boys need second-leg win

Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark focused firmly on the positives as his side went down to a narrow defeat to Iceland in their European Under-21 Championship play-off in Reykjavik last night.

The home side came from behind to clinch a 2-1 win thanks to a 78th-minute winner from Almarr Ormarsson.

Jamie Murphy put Scotland in front after just 19 minutes to silence the crowd of 7,255, but Iceland hit back with an equaliser from Johann Berg Gudmundsson after 34 minutes.

Scotland, though, know a 1-0 win in the second leg at Easter Road on Monday will see them into the finals for the first time since 1996 and Stark was content with the result against a strong Iceland side.

"When you have to go to a place and have to play against a team with their full squad you can't be too disappointed with the result," he said.

"You could say that we hoped to win the game but with all things considered I'm reasonably satisfied."

He added: "I think it's nicely set up. I think we played against a good side and we had to defend pretty well and I think we did that." Iceland midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, though, felt the hosts were clearly the better team.

"We all stick together, fight for each other and for every loose ball," said the Coventry player. "I think we showed that in this game.

"We have a great team and we deserved the win. Our team played much better football and I think everybody saw that.

"But they are tight at the back and are a strong side. I think I'm not taking anything away from them when I say we were much better in this game."

The day did not start well for the home side, who had Rurik Gislason ruled out through injury and then saw goalkeeper Haraldur Bjornsson suffer an injury in the warm up.

That meant 19-year-old Arnar Darri Petursson was handed a place in the starting XI, but Scotland could only manage two shots on target in the whole game.

After a slow start, Scotland goalkeeper Alan Martin had to save twice in the 15th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Birkir Bjarnason opened up the defence and Kolbeinn Sigtorsson fired in a shot which Martin saved before also blocking the follow-up from Sigurdsson on the penalty spot.

Surprisingly, Scotland took the lead when Holmar Eyjolfsson lost the ball in his own penalty area and Murphy hammered the ball into the net from the right-hand side of the box.

Iceland's response came 15 minutes later. Bjarnason's right-wing cross was cleared only as far as Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who equalised with a great shot with his left foot from outside the area.

Johann Berg was dangerous on the left wing in the second half, producing several good crosses that Kolbeinn Sigtorsson failed to take advantage of.

But Ormarsson was far more accurate in the 78th minute after coming on as a substitute just five minutes earlier, firing in a superb winner from 30 yards to give his side hope of reaching the finals for the first time.