Scotland Under-21s succumbed to a first-half double from Jose Villarreal as they went down to their United States counterparts in a challenge match in Marbella.
USA U20s - Villarreal (21, 31)
Billy Stark’s new-look side lost both goals from long throw-ins to the Los Angeles Galaxy player and were unable to recover. To add to a miserable day, Ryan Jack, who captained the side for the first time, was carried off on a stretcher after twisting his right ankle and although the extent of the injury is still unclear, the Aberdeen defender will play no part in the friendly against Canada on Monday afternoon.
Scotland started brightly and Aberdeen defender Clark Robertson found space inside the USA half on four minutes and unleashed a venomous shot which flew just past the post. In the 18th minute Celtic striker Tony Watt made space for himself on the edge of the USA box and forced goalkeeper Kendal McIntosh into a flying save.
However, two minutes later the Scots went behind when goalkeeper Jordan Archer dropped a long throw-in which left Villarreal with the simple task of tapping the ball into the empty net.
On the half-hour USA went 2-0 in front when Stark’s side failed to learn their lesson from the first goal. Another long throw-in went deep into the Scotland box and the unmarked Villarreal headed the ball across the goal and beyond Archer.
USA Under-20s: McIntosh, Okwuonu, Torre, Stanko, Packwood, Pelosi, Joya, Gil, Villarreal, Rodriguez, Cuevas. Subs Not Used: Horvath, Top, Kiesewetter, Miller, Lopez. G
Scotland U21: Archer, Jack (Duffie 55), Robertson, Kerr, Wallace, Fyvie, McGeouch, McLean (Smith 73), Armstrong (Holt 65), Scougall, Watt. Subs Not Used: Kettings, McHattie, Carrick.