In their Nations League debut, Scotland's women's football team faced a challenging match against Austria, resulting in a narrow defeat. Kirsty Hanson, one of the team's forward players, emphasized the importance of not making excuses despite the disappointing outcome.

Early Challenges and Opportunities

Despite a promising start where Hanson created significant chances, Scotland failed to capitalize, leading to a goal by Austria's Lilli Purtscheller at the 14-minute mark. The situation worsened when Sophie Howard was forced off the pitch due to an injury early in the game.

Defensive Adjustments and Second Half Efforts

In response to Howard's injury, Leah Eddie was brought on, significantly lowering the average age of Scotland's defense. The team managed to maintain a one-goal deficit into halftime. The second half saw some improvement in Scotland's play, yet Austria's solid defense and persistent efforts prevented any Scottish comeback.

New Faces on the Field

This match also marked the debut of several players including Eilidh Adams, Frey Gregory, and Emma Lawton. Hanson expressed support for the new players, highlighting the team's unity and collective effort to integrate the young talents.

Reflections on the Game

"We know what it's like and obviously not much has changed about the starting XI," Hanson noted. "A few new faces, but we're obviously a whole squad and we helped the young ones coming in, the debuts. So, it might take some time, but we can't obviously use that as an excuse."

This match represents a pivotal moment for the team to reflect, regroup, and strategize for future games in the Nations League, focusing on leveraging their strengths and addressing their weaknesses.