The best chances of the first half best fell to ####ia as Scotland struggled to get out of their own half. When the Scots’ did string a couple of passes together the move broke down as the final pass found its way into touch or to a ####ian player.

Ideye had a couple of excellent chances in the first forty five minutes and both times Scottish keeper Andrew McNeil redeemed himself for a disastrous display against Japan. Jamie Adams (Kilmarnock) picked up a yellow card – his second in two games – after a brutal challenge that saw Sodiq leave the field with a head wound. Adams went in with a high challenge that saw his boot make contact with Sodiq’s head.

Adams will now miss Scotland’s final group game against Costa Rica. Perhaps a more pertinent question would how a player of such limited ability managed to be picked for the first two games?

####ia’s first goal came early in the second half and came not unexpectedly from a couple of defensive screw-ups. A routine cross was first misplayed by Cuthbert and Bala thumped the loose ball trough the legs of keeper McNeil. 

A couple of Scotland substitutions with three-quarters of the game gone offered a glimmer of hope but as it turned out ####ia doubled their lead. McNeil was unable to handle a shot from just outside of the penalty box and Bala headed the ball home for his second of the game.

Ambrose picked up a second yellow card with ten minutes to go forcing ####ia to play short-handed. Scotland mounted a few frantic attacks but failed to break the ####ian shut-out.

Sodiq was a rock at the centre of ####ia’s defense while Bala was a constant irritant for Scotland with his speed and aggression.

With two wins ####ia joins Japan in the last sixteen and which team will remain in Victoria for the first knock-out round will be decided on Saturday. Japan will take top spot with a draw given that the two teams are tied on points and goal difference but Japan has scored more goals.

Scotland and Costa Rica play the same day in a game that could mean nothing except pride. As it is the chances of either team qualifying as one of the four best third place finishers appears to be remote.

You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.

You can also check out the National Post blog.