**UEFA Under-21 European Qualifier
Scotland** **3-3 Azerbaijan Tuesday, 14 October 2025**
**Liv Bona Dea Arena, Baku**
**Scotland 3** Lawrence (33), Graham (44), Cleall-Harding (90)
**Azerbaijan 3** Aliyev (7, 49 Pen), Ibrahimov (79)
**Team News**
Scot Gemmill name an unchanged Scotland starting XI, with a front three featuring Dire Mebude, Emilio Lawrence and James Wilson having all got on the scoresheet on Thursday's win at Dens Park.
Kristi Montgomery, David Watson and Kyle Ure continued in midfield, and a back four of Matthew Anderson, Luke Graham, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Colby Donovan lined up in front of Ruaridh Adams.
David Watson continued with the captain’s armband.
**As It Happened**
Dire Mebude and James Wilson combined early on to work the first shot of the game, a low drive from Mebude that forced a corner. The resulting corner was agonisingly close to being headed in by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen at the back post.
Moments later, however, the hosts took the lead, with Aliyev evading Chilokoa-Mullen's last-ditch tackle to advance into the box and curl a shot into the far corner.
The response was positive, as Scotland pressed for an equaliser. James Wilson closed down Hashimov in goal to steal the ball, laying off to Emilio Lawrence, who dribbled into the box before shooting wide.
The right-hand side then became Scotland's preferred route of attack, with Colby Donovan being particularly progressive in driving forward into the box and winning several corners.
On one such occasion down the right, Donovan crossed for Wilson in the middle. Despite the striker being beaten to the ball, it fell to Kristi Montgomery, who played off to Kyle Ure for a left-footed shot that was blocked.
The home team, however, continued to show their danger on the break, advancing down the right after regaining the ball from a throw-in. the. ball was cut back to Ahmedov, who fired his effort wide of Adams' goal.
Azerbaijan would rue this rare opportunity, as the. visitors levelled moments later. Emilio Lawrence received the ball on the left and, as he did on multiple occasions at Dens Park, cut in to shoot on goal. His effort deflected off the back of David Watson and took it beyond Hashimov.
The first-half comeback was complete soon after, as a David Watson corner found Luke Graham, who headed in at the front post, before the opening 45 minutes ended 2-1.
A double change was made at half time, as goalscorer Luke Graham and Kyle Ure - both on bookings - were replaced by Sam Cleall-Harding and Miller Thomson.
Scotland's star to the second half wasn't the one they wanted, as Chilokoa-Mullen was sent-off after having been judged to pull back Aliyev outside the box as the last man.
The resulting free-kick then saw a penalty awarded for handball against Mebude, which Aliyev converted to level the game once again.
As they did in the first half, Scotland's response to conceding was positive, once again controlling the game.
Another corner almost produced a second headed goal, but Sam Cleall-Harding saw his effort go just over the bar.
Lawrence then forced Hashimov into a good save from a shot in the box.
Miller Thomson made an impact on the right, covering the length of the pitch as a fill-in right back following Chilokoa-Mullen's sending-off. A series of stopovers ended with. a stinging low cross into the box that just evaded the on-rushing James Wilson.
Ryan Oné came off the bench and almost made an instant impact, seeing his shot from Lawrence's cross saved from close range.
For all Scotland's pressure with ten-men, it was Azerbaijan who took the lead again with just over ten minutes remaining as second-half substitute Shahin Ibrahimov clipped a shot from the edge of the box, which took a nick off Colby Donovan to give the hosts the lead.
The game had another twist as Sam Cleall-Harding got up well to nod home a Kristi Montgomery cross into the box giving the Scots hope of a comeback.
In the aftermath of the goal, Dire Mebude became the second Scotland player to see red, picking up a second yellow for celebrating in front of the Azerbaijan captain, drawing the ire of the referee.
The Scots battled on to try and grab a late winner, with Oné and Watson testing the Azerbaijan centre-backs and goalkeeper but it wasn't to be.
**Scotland Team**
Scotland: Ruaridh Adams (GK), Colby Donovan , Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Luke Graham (45', Sam Cleall-Harding), Matthew Anderson, Kristi Montgomery , Kyle Ure (45', Miller Thomson), David Watson ©, Emilio Lawrence (90', Ben McPherson), Dire Mebude, James Wilson (76', Ryan Oné).
Substitutes: Rory Mahady (GK), Liam McFarlane (GK), Ben McPherson (90', Ben McPherson), Samuel Cleall-Harding (45', Luke Graham), Rudi Molotnikov, Macauley Tait, Findlay Curtis, Ryan Oné (76', James Wilson), Miller Thomson (45', Kyle Ure).
**Next-up**
Two more qualifiers await in November, starting with an away trip to Gibraltar, before a home tie versus Bulgaria at Fir Park on Tuesday, 18 November.