Women's International Friendlies
ScotlandScotland4Costa RicaCosta Rica0

Scotland 4-0 Costa Rica: Emma Watson, 17, inspires win with first goals

By Clive LindsayBBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

Scotland swept aside World Cup-bound Costa Rica as 17-year-old Emma Watson scored her first international goals after earning only her second cap.

Watson, handed her first start in Friday's win over Australia, got the ball rolling after five minutes as she pounced on a Caroline Weir free-kick.

Claire Emslie helped steer in a Weir corner before the roles were reversed for the third - all before the break.

Watson completed the rout with a stunning strike.

It was a welcome hint of a brighter future on a night when Scotland were given a reminder of what might have been with a second victory in five days over a side who will be competing at this summer's World Cup finals.

Scotland showed why they are 13 places above Costa Rica in the world rankings as the visitors head to Australia and New Zealand without a victory in seven outings.

It was a tale of two captains and an emerging teenage star at Hampden Park.

Scotland started nervously on a slippery surface, but they were soon to settle, helped in part by the visitors conceding a couple of free-kicks deep inside their own half as they slid dangerously into challenges on the sodden turf.

Weir, handed the captaincy in the absence of Rachel Corsie, took advantage to curl a delivery to the back post and, when Katherine Alvarado failed to clear, Watson was on hand to volley her first Scotland goal from close range.

An iconic moment in only her second Scotland appearance as the side debuted their 150th anniversary shirt.

It had been Emslie who had been handed the captaincy for Friday's win over Australia in London to mark the winger's 50th cap.

Any disappointment she might have felt by handing the armband to her joint vice-captain was dissipated as she stooped reach Weir's corner at the front post just short of the half hour. The final touch may have gone off Katherine Alvarado, but Emslie took the plaudits.

Emslie soon returned the favour with a clip behind the visiting defence for Weir to deftly steer past goalkeeper Daniela Solera after a dip of the shoulder took the Real Madrid midfielder past her marker.

Weir came close to adding another shortly after the break with a low drive across the face of goal and off the far post, while centre-half Sophie Howard had a diving header cleared off the line.

There was no surprise when Scotland increased their lead and what a stunner it was - Watson finding the far corner from 18 yards.

Costa Rica had wilted late on in losing in Poland on Thursday, but they showed some late fight as goalkeeper Lee Gibson saved from Catalina Estrada and Cristin Granados long-ranger struck the top of the bar.

Nothing, though, could prevent a Hampden ovation for a convincing victory and an emerging young star.

Player of the match - Emma Watson

Scotland's Emma Watson scores
Emma Watson (centre) beat Claire Emslie to score the opener, added the fourth and belied her 17 years by bullying experienced opponents aside in midfield

What's next?

As Costa Rica head for World Cup Group C, where they face Spain in New Zealand on 21 July before games against Japan and Zambia, Scotland will have to resign themselves to yet-to-be-arranged friendlies before the inaugural Nations League starts in September.

Line-ups

Scotland

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Gibson
  • 14McLauchlan
  • 5HowardSubstituted forClarkat 71'minutes
  • 3Mukandi
  • 2DochertySubstituted forMuirat 71'minutes
  • 11WatsonSubstituted forBrownat 83'minutes
  • 8Kerr
  • 9Weir
  • 19DavidsonSubstituted forHayat 57'minutes
  • 10HansonSubstituted forNapierat 71'minutes
  • 18EmslieSubstituted forThomasat 57'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Hill
  • 6Muir
  • 7Brown
  • 12Fife
  • 13Hay
  • 15Clark
  • 16Robertson
  • 17Smith
  • 20Thomas
  • 21Cumings
  • 22Cornet
  • 23Napier

Costa Rica

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 23Solera
  • 5PorrasSubstituted forRodríguezat 45'minutes
  • 20Villalobos
  • 6Del Campo
  • 2Guillén
  • 13ValencianoBooked at 45minsSubstituted forGranadosat 45'minutes
  • 16AlvaradoSubstituted forAnguloat 84'minutes
  • 14ChinchillaSubstituted forEstradaat 84'minutes
  • 21VillalobosSubstituted forOvaresat 76'minutes
  • 7HerreraSubstituted forPinellat 84'minutes
  • 11RodríguezBooked at 61mins

Substitutes

  • 1Bermúdez
  • 4Benavides
  • 9Estrada
  • 12Rodríguez
  • 15Granados
  • 17Ovares
  • 18Tapia
  • 19Pinell
  • 22Campos
  • 24Angulo
Attendance:
1,000

Match Stats

Home TeamScotlandAway TeamCosta Rica
Possession
Home64%
Away36%
Shots
Home17
Away10
Shots on Target
Home7
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home8
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Scotland 4, Costa Rica Women 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Scotland 4, Costa Rica Women 0.

  3. Post update

    Caroline Weir (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Cristín Granados (Costa Rica Women).

  5. Post update

    Foul by Brogan Hay (Scotland).

  6. Post update

    Alexandra Pinell (Costa Rica Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Martha Thomas (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Caroline Weir with a cross.

  8. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Brogan Hay (Scotland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martha Thomas.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Cristín Granados.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Martha Thomas (Scotland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Caroline Weir.

  11. Post update

    Cristín Granados (Costa Rica Women) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Costa Rica Women. Catalina Estrada replaces Priscila Chinchilla.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Costa Rica Women. Carolina Angulo replaces Katherine Alvarado.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Costa Rica Women. Alexandra Pinell replaces Mélissa Herrera.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Fiona Brown replaces Emma Watson.

  16. Post update

    Martha Thomas (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Katherine Alvarado (Costa Rica Women).

  18. Post update

    Caroline Weir (Scotland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Gabriela Guillén (Costa Rica Women).

  20. Post update

    Corner, Costa Rica Women. Conceded by Emma Mukandi.