Scotland U21s suffered their first defeat in European Championship qualifying as they were beaten 1-0 by Austria.
Austria take the spoils in Euro qualifier
Scotland Under 21s suffered their first defeat in European Championship qualifying as they were beaten 1-0 by Austria.
A second-half strike from Andreas Weimann settled the contest, but Scotland will feel disappointed to have spurned numerous promising opportunities throughout the game.
The decisive goal arrived in the 57th minute when Aston Villa's Weimann pounced after a lapse in concentration by the Scotland midfield.
A sloppy pass was seized upon by Austria's impressive midfielder and Man of the Match David Alaba set up Weimann to place a first-time shot past Alan Martin.
It was rough justice for Scotland, who had started the campaign well with two promising victories over Albania.
Scotland had dominated proceedings up to the goal thanks to their pairing of Burnley's Kevin McDonald and Peterborough's Paul Coutts.
The twin strike threat of Jamie Murphy and Christopher Maguire were constantly getting behind the Austria back four, supported by Falkirk livewire Harry Arfield and St Mirren's Stephen McGinn on the flanks.
Crowded
In Scotland's best chance of the half, Murphy floated a cross over a crowded area in the 16th minute to Maguire, who headed just over the crossbar.
Austria's 17-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Alaba was the main threat in the centre of midfield, while Guido Burgstaller also provided some menace from the left wing.
Disciplined defending from Scotland and a lethargic, error-ridden performance from Austria, however, had meant that the hosts were mainly forced to shoot from distance.
They did manage to force a clear chance just before half-time when a slip in the Scottish midfield allowed Sand to send Burgstaller through on goal but his shot went just wide.
It was a warning signal for Scotland which went unheeded early in the second half.
In the 57th minute, the dangerous Alaba ran at goal after Scotland needlessly gave away possession and he picked out Weimann in space on the right of the penalty box.
The 18-year-old substitute had only been on the field one minute but confidently slotted home a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner.
Rattled
Austria seized the initiative from a rattled Scotland side, particularly in midfield where Alaba, the captain Veli Kavlak and the substitute Atdhe Nuhiu found themselves in more and more space.
In the 59th minute, Alaba sent a scorching drive just over the crossbar, while a 65th-minute corner, again from Alaba, was headed goalwards by Nihiu and cleared off the line by Scotland's Mitchell.
In the 74th minute a shot from Kablak was spilled by Martin, who recovered just in time.
The last 10 minutes were all Scotland as they frantically pressed for an equaliser.
Substitute John Fleck fired a shot straight at the keeper in the 80th minute, and a header in the 85th, which the Austrian goalkeeper Lukas Konigshoffer did well to save.
In the last minute of normal time, following a goalmouth scramble, Paul Hanlon's flick came off the keeper and out off the crossbar.
It was the closest Scotland came to scoring in a match they will look back on as one of missed opportunities and three lost points.
