SCOTLAND Under-21 match-winner Kevin McDonald believes his superb goal against Finland last night was his best strike of the season so far.
McDonald latched on to a Ross McCormack free-kick with eight minutes remaining to secure a 2-1 win at Pittodrie with a powerful half-volley.
The Dundee midfielder is making a habit of scoring crucial goals, having twice netted in the final minute
of crunch games for his promotion-chasing First Division club.
Just like Finland Under-21s, St Johnstone and Partick were victims of late McDonald winners but the 19-year-old insists none of the ten goals he has scored for Dundee matched his fantastic finish against the Finns, which breathed new life into Scotland's UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.
When asked if his goal at Pittodrie was his personal pick of the bunch this term, McDonald said: "I think it is, given the time it came at as well. I've had a couple for Dundee in the last minute, but it's the best finish I've scored."
McDonald was modest in his description of the goal, adding: "Ross saw me with a brilliant pass which came to my feet. It was good control and then I just lashed at it and it went in the top corner."
Scotland's opener will stick in the mind due to the intelligent nature of the free-kick from which it came. Scott Arfield and Jamie Hamill looked as if they were going to lay the ball off to McCormack, only for it to be smartly shifted to Steven Naismith, who found the net with a deflected drive. Finland's reply came via a sumptuous curled effort from their man of the match Kasper Hamalainen.
A draw then seemed the likely outcome but McDonald produced a moment of magic that was vital to Scotland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2009 in Sweden.
Finland may still be out in front in Group Six, but Scotland – who last night featured Hearts stars Jamie MacDonald and Lee Wallace, Hibs striker Ross Campbell and Livingston's Graham Dorrans – are now just five points behind their rivals with a game in hand.
Denmark sit between Finland and Scotland, having also played one match more than Billy Stark's young side.
Scotland have three fixtures left, the next of which is in Lithuania on August 20. Naismith and Hamill picked up bookings last night and will miss the game.
Scotland U21: MacDonald, Cuthbert, Wallace, Hamill, Kenneth, Reynolds, McCormack, McDonald, Campbell (Dorrans 56), Arfield (Mulgrew 71), Naismith. Subs not used: Smith, McCann, Considine, Conroy, McArthur.
The full article contains 438 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
