Pedro’s boasts are backed up as super Scots move a step closer to Euros

Scotland 4 Hungary 0 (Scotland win 5-0 on aggregate)

Pedro Martinez Losa was thankfully never in danger of having to eat his words as Scotland took a significant step towards next summer’s European Championships in Switzerland with an emphatic win over Hungary.

The Spaniard had boldly asserted that ‘Scotland would not lose’ at Easter Road after overseeing a 1-0 victory in last Friday’s first leg in Budapest. 

He got the win and plenty more as strikes from Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir, Martha Thomas and an own goal by visiting keeper Lauren Brzykcy catapuled his team into a play-off final with Finland.

Mind you, Martinez Losa might not be making the same bullish claims ahead of the first leg at the same Edinburgh venue on November 29, with the Finns going to be a toughest test.

Scotland star Weir relished her first goal since returning to international duty from injury

Sam Kerr contributed to opener after her shot stuck crossbar and went in off the keeper

‘That was my feeling [on Friday],’ said the head coach after Tuesday night’s 4-0 win sealed a 5-0 aggregate triumph. ‘I could feel the determination of the group and how excited they were. 

We knew if we lost we would be eliminated, so that was my meaning.

‘I am very happy for the team and very proud of how they played. They gave everything on the pitch and played with personality and character.

‘We have learned a lot. We are a calm team. We stay focused on the task and on what we need to do rather than any noise. It was a full performance with everything coming together. I still think there is more to come from this team.’

With the away leg on December 3, Scotland are now just two games away from returning to a major finals for the first time since the World Cup in France in 2019.

They will need this kind of confident performance against Finland, who thrashed Montenegro 5-0 to progress 6-0 on aggregate.

Goalkeeper Eartha Cumings was one of two changes for Scotland, replacing Lee Gibson. It seemed like an odd choice as the veteran stopper had kept a clean sheet in Bundapest and was clearly fit as she took part in the pre-match warm-up.

No matter. Kirsty Smith also came in for Kirsty Hanson and the Scots looked the more purposeful side in the opening stages.

Weir threatened twice, once from a short corner after she ran off her marker only to pull her effort wide of the target. She then fired an effort into the arms of Brzykcy.

The unfortunate keeper was soon picking the ball out of her own net. Sam Kerr’s initial effort smacked off the crossbar, before hitting the Hungarian No1 on the back and rolling in.

That gave the hosts some breathing space and they took full charge, Weir pulling the strings and dictating the tempo.

Lisa Evans might have doubled Scotland’s lead when she headed Claire Emslie’s curling delivery wide, but an onslaught of goals seemed inevitable.

Erin Cuthbert was also on the scoresheet with a superb long-range effort

Martha Thomas rues a missed second-half chance but she soon scored goal No4 

Martinez Losa doesn’t look thrilled but he was delighted with victory in play-off

The second goal arrived just after the half hour mark, Cuthbert’s well-struck shot from outside the area taking a deflection and looping into the top corner.

Emboldened, Scotland kept at it. Sophie Howard headed over after Evans had turned supplier as Martinez Losa’s side looked to keep Hungary penned in.

Hungary made changes and tried to engineer a lifeline after the break. Scotland were able to pick them off, Weir adding a third to emphatically kill the tie ten minutes after the interval. She collected an impudent backheel from Thomas before steering a shot low into the back of the net.

It was her first international goal since her return to action following a long-term knee injury, and her jubilant celebration was a clear indication of what it meant.

Thomas was next to get in on the act in the 65th minute with a sharp finish after the ball was deflected into her path to round off a seventh win in succession for the home side..

Sure, Finland will be a bigger test but Scotland must believe they can do it on current form.