The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Back to home page

Scotland stay top after stalemate

Belgium 0 Scotland 0   

att: 4,052: at King Power at Den Dreef Stadium

Scotland drew with Belgium in their second meeting in four days, as both sides were forced to settle for a point in a tightly contested encounter.

Melissa Andreatta made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with the hosts on Tuesday night. Amy Muir replaced Emma Lawton, who withdrew from the squad through injury, while Lauren Davidson earned a starting berth in place of Kirsty McLean after impressing from the bench in the first fixture.

Neither side was able to assert clear control in the early stages, though the first chance fell to Belgium. A swift break down the right by Mathys caught the Scottish defence on the back foot, and her low cross forced Sandy MacIver into a fine save to deny Eurlings.

Scotland created their first opening through neat interplay between Caroline Weir and Davidson on the right flank, but the latter’s 20-yard strike was comfortably gathered by Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard. Cuthbert and Freya Gregory combined well midway through the first half, with the left back delivering a dangerous cross that just evaded the head of Kathleen McGovern.

Moments later, another defence-splitting pass from Cuthbert released Gregory, who found Weir inside the box, but the Scotland captain was unable to make clean contact.

Both teams looked comfortable in possession without creating many clear openings. With less than ten minutes remaining in the first half, Belgium capitalised on a loose pass from Muir in the Scotland half. The ball fell to Janssens inside the area, where she feigned a shot before laying it back to Eurlings, whose pass found Mathys, but the forward’s effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

In the closing stages of the half, a long range free kick from Tessa Wullaert almost caught MacIver off guard, but the Scotland goalkeeper reacted sharply to push the ball behind for a corner. The delivery was met by Eurlings, who headed the ball back across goal to the onrushing Detruyer. Her header crashed off the post, and MacIver was quick to push away the follow up effort to keep the scores level at the break.

Scotland started the second half on the front foot. Kathleen McGovern was played through on goal by Weir, only to be denied by a superb sliding challenge from Tysiak. Subsequent efforts from Gregory and Erin Cuthbert were both bravely blocked by the Belgian defence.

Sandy MacIver was called into action again shortly afterwards, tipping a powerful header from Toloba over the bar following a dangerous cross from Cayman.

As the half progressed, Scotland began to control possession and exploit space in the wide areas. Davidson was released down the right by Muir and picked out McGovern with a precise pass, but the striker sent her effort high into the stands. Moments later, a Cuthbert corner found Gregory, whose ambitious volley from inside the box sailed over the bar.

Belgium grew into the game as it wore on, with Detruyer particularly influential in midfield. She saw a couple of shots blocked by Scottish bodies before firing another effort over. Scotland’s defence remained solid, with Docherty well placed to prevent Wullaert from converting a cross from the left. Less than a minute later, Reynders found herself unmarked in the box but could not direct her header on target.

With just over a minute of normal time remaining, Caroline Weir delivered a pinpoint cross into the Belgian penalty area, but Kathleen McGovern was unable to generate enough power or direction on her header to trouble Evrard.

The goalless draw means Scotland remained unbeaten in the double header against Belgium, and still head the group on goal difference, though they will be disappointed not to have converted their periods of dominance into all three points.

Belgium: Nicky Evrard, Sari Kees, Amber Tysiak, Janice Cayman, Zenia Mertens, Jill Janssens, Marie Detruyer (sub Luna Vanzeir 79mins), Jasmien Mathys (sub Elena Dhont 79mins), Tessa Wullaert, Hannah Eurlings (sub Aurelie Reynders 61mins), Marian Toloba (sub Jarne Teulings 86mins). Subs not used: Diede Lemey, Lowiese Seynhaeve, Amy Littel, Isabelle Illiano, Valesca Ampoorter, Lore Jacobs, Constance Brackman, Kassandra Missipo.  

Scotland: Sandy MacIver, Nicola Docherty, Jenna Clark, Amy Muir, Miri Taylor (sub Chelsea Cornet 85mins), Caroline Weir, Freya Gregory (sub Charlotte Newsham 85mins), Kathleen McGovern, Lauren Davidson (sub Kirsty Howat 76mins), Rachel McLauchlan, Erin Cuthbert. Subs not used: Lee Gibson, Eartha Cumings, Sophie Howard, Kirsty MacLean, Georgia Brown, Mia McAuley, Eilidh Adams, Kenzie Weir.