Chris Maguire's goal from the halfway line proved to be in vain as Scotland U21s lost their play-off to Iceland.
Maguire scores from halfway line but Iceland U21s prevail
Chris Maguire's sensational goal from the halfway line proved to be in vain as Scotland Under-21s lost their play-off against Iceland.
Iceland repeated their 2-1 victory from the first leg to secure a 4-2 aggregate success and ensure progression to next year's European Championship in Denmark.
Despite the disappointing result there was a special moment to savour for Maguire, who beat the goalkeeper with a perfect chip from the restart just after Gylfi Sigurdsson had broken the deadlock for Iceland.
Sigurdsson's opener had been a great goal itself and the former Reading midfielder, who joined Hoffenheim over the summer, then produced another moment of magic to put the game out of Scotland's reach.
Sublime
Scotland had come closest to a first-half goal when Jamie Murphy hit the post and Barry Bannan saw the follow-up brilliantly cleared off the line.
But a strong visiting side, whose squad featured 13 full internationals, stifled the hosts before edging the great goals contest.
Sigurdsson struck first in the 72nd minute, riding a tackle 22 yards out before curling a shot into the far corner when there appeared to be little danger.
Iceland's lead was immediately cancelled out though thanks to Maguire's sublime effort.
Murphy rolled the ball to the Aberdeen forward as Scotland restarted the match and Maguire launched the ball over visiting keeper Arnar Petursson and underneath the bar from the halfway line.
Glorious
The Scots were lifted and Maguire soon won a free-kick 30 yards out but Petursson held his curling effort.
And Sigurdsson soon struck yet another glorious goal, blasting the ball into the same top corner from 25 yards.
Maguire miscued a volley as Scotland pressed and David Templeton was booked for diving as the home side appealed for a penalty.
Fellow substitute David Goodwillie put the ball into the net but the whistle had already blown for a foul and Bannan curled the resulting free-kick a yard over as Scotland's hopes finally evaporated.
