‘Not pretty or nice but Scotland come up clutch in Casablanca’

Scotland’s first win in almost a year came in the form of a routine raid on the usual suspects in Casablanca.

Melissa Andreatta’s first victory in her third game as head coach came with Erin Cuthbert’s opener, which came right from a corner, and Caroline Weir’s wonder goal from 35 yards. However, they persevered.

The Australian acknowledged after the match that it was not going to be perfect but that she had asked for more. A victory

the national team’s first since October 29, 2024.

With ten minutes left, Elodie Nakkach’s slap-worthy equalizer for the hosts appeared to have vanished.

The Scots struggled to enter their new era as planned for lengthy periods of the sticky, stop-start friendly it was out there. Casablanca lacked a familiarity-like atmosphere.

Although Andreatta oversaw a draw in the Netherlands and a defeat by Austria, this was seen as a bit of a starting point for the year’s first of four friendlies.

A back three was deployed in the Stade Pere Jego following the transfer of the match from Stade El Arbi Zaouli earlier this week, which supported that clean slate sentiment.

The head coach called that system “an afforded opportunity to really get our attacking game going,” along with Morocco’s opponents.

That wasn’t exactly the case.

The Scots rarely tested Khadija Er-Rmichi in the Moroccan goal despite the heat and a whistle-happy referee.

until Cuthbert curled a slender corner into the back of the net.

The Chelsea midfielder spoke to BBC Scotland about the new coaching staff, saying, “We’ve been doing a lot of work on set pieces this week. They’ve been absolutely daft for it.”

And it was a relief when it did.

Before Nakkach’s equalizer, it appeared as though Cuthbert’s calculated corner would be the difference-maker in Morocco.

Andreatta’s ambitions were not realized in the 40 minutes of football that followed the goals.

The Scots rarely sought a second. Instead, they reintroduced the WAFCON champions with a few agonizingly awkward moments before the deserved leveller was lashed in.

Scotland’s play had been slowed down by the final moments of the game because there was a sense of urgency in the final moments.

Weir’s lofted finish, which she typically scores for Real Madrid with relative ease, was the result of this, which relieved Scotland greatly.

Relief that they were arresting this terrible, winless run, and relief that they were doing it despite hardship.

Cuthbert continued, “Games like this remind me of when we played Albania in the World Cup.”

They get themselves back in the game, but we come up victorious and we win it, he said. “It might not be pretty, it might not be nice, but we come out swinging.”

I believe the key now is to get wins for us on the board.

This one was more than necessary after eight games without a victory.

Following Finland’s defeat in the Euro 2025 qualifying round, a miserable Nations League campaign followed. The Euros semi-final play-off victory against Hungary at Easter Road was the last to be celebrated.

The culmination of Pedro Martinez Losa’s reign turned out to be that night in the capital, where there were high hopes and a bounty of belief in tow.

Scotland were unbeaten against the Finns. Cuthbert and Weir were irritated because they were unable to make a lasting impression over the summer and were consequently once more excluded from the continental spotlight.

It’s unknown why it doesn’t consistently work for the creative pair of the nation.