Luxembourg U21s 0-3 Scotland U21s: Gauld double

Ryan Gauld celebrates after opening the scoring. Picture: SNS

SPORTING LISBON’S Ryan Gauld netted twice as Scotland rounded off their doomed qualifying bid for the UEFA Under-21 Championships with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg.

The Portuguese giant’s £3 million summer signing from Dundee United netted either side of Rangers midfielder Lewis Macleod’s second goal for Billy Stark’s youth team.

But even the comfortable final win was not enough to see Scotland through to next year’s finals in the Czech Republic after they failed to beat Slovakia on Friday.

The Dark Blue youngsters do climb up to third spot in Group 3 but it will be the Netherlands who qualify directly to the tournament, with last week’s opponents preparing for the play-offs.

Despite the meaningless nature of the Stade Municipal de Differdange clash, Stark named a strong line-up with Gauld starting alongside Macleod, St Mirren’s John McGinn and Sheffield Wednesday striker Stevie May.

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser looked sharp again early on following his strike in the 1-1 draw with the Slovakians.

But it was Gauld who opened the scoring after 31 minutes as the 18-year-old - last week named in Sporting’s Champions League squad - curling home the opener after decent work by May to tee him up.

May then sent a free-kick just wide of target before Macleod added the second 10 minutes before half-time as he finished off a sweeping move that also involved Gauld and Aberdeen defender Ryan Jack.

Gauld’s second came on 62 minutes as he swept home after more good play by Fraser, while he just missed out on a hat-trick with 10 minutes left after Luxembourg stopper Joe Frising did well to save his low shot.