Soccer-Kazakhstan thrash Scotland to launch Euro 2020 campaign

Kazakhstan began their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by thrashing Scotland 3-0 in a raucous atmosphere inside the Astana Arena on Thursday. Scotland were blown away inside the opening 10 minutes of the Group I clash as Yuriy Pertsukh and Yan Vorogovskiy both finished in style to put the hosts in control.

There was no way back for a disappointing Scotland side when Baktiyar Zainutdinov's header made it 3-0 in the 50th minute. Kazakhstan, 117th in the FIFA rankings, looked dangerous every time they attacked on the slick artificial surface and Scotland managed only two attempts on target on a night to forget for them.

It was all too easy for the Kakakhs as a simple ball forward split the Scotland defence in the sixth minute and Pertsukh took a touch before driving past keeper Scott Bain. Scotland barely had time to compose themselves before their defence again went missing to allow Vorogovskiy to slide home from Islambek Kuat's superb pass.

Kazakhstan failed to win any of their 10 games in the qualifying campaign for the World Cup finals but could celebrate one of their greatest nights when Zinutdinov headed home. (Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Christian Radnedge)