Rep of Ireland 0-2 Scotland
The Republic of Ireland Under-21s slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Scotland in a friendly clash in Spain.
Goals in each half from Bobby Wales and Jude Bonnar at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia were enough for the Scots to gain victory, while Jim Crawford's Boys in Green will now turn their attentions to Monday's meeting with Hungary at the same venue.
Crawford handed Under-21 debuts to Manchester United youngster Jack Moorehouse and Crystal Palace winger Franco Umeh, although St Patrick's Athletic forward Mason Melia missed out on the matchday squad as a precaution.
The Scots signalled their intent in the second minute when Wales fired an angled shot into the side-netting. And the Kilmarnock striker opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he helped the ball over the line from a couple of yards out after the Irish defence failed to deal with a low delivery from the left from Emilio Lawrence.
Ireland's first chance came midway through the first half when Jad Hakiki headed wide from close range.
Scotland immediately went up the park and peppered the Irish goal with three attempts in quick succession, as Irish keeper Aaron Maguire pulled off two impressive saves to deny Lawrence and Daniel Kelly before Luke Graham headed wide from an Adam Forrester cross.
Lawrence's encouraging debut was cut short when he picked up an injury while unleashing a shot just before the hour.
Bonnar followed up to drill home Scotland's second from just inside the box in the 77th minute after fellow substitute Ryan One's shot had been blocked on the edge of the six-yard box.
Ireland had a chance to pull one back in the 88th minute when Jeremiah Mullen was deemed to have tripped Darius Lipsiuc in the box, but Dundee United goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams - on for Murray Johnson in the second half - got down to save Joe Gardner's spot-kick.
Rep of Ireland U21: Aaron Maguire (Callum Walsh '84); Connor O'Brien, Sean Grehan (c) (Connor Barratt '84), Alex Murphy, Jacob Slater; Jack Moorhouse (Ronan Maher '63), Jad Hakiki, Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Darius Lipusic '78); Franco Umeh (Harry Vaughan '63), Jamie Mullins (Adam Murphy '84), Mark O'Mahony (Joe Gardner '63).
Watch Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live commentary on Radio 1 Extra
