Football: Germaine errors help Swedes

Sweden Under-21 2 Scotland Under-21 1

Gary Germaine was left red-faced last night as 10-man Sweden stole a European Cham- pionship victory. The West Brom keeper was at fault for both goals after Jim Hamilton had given the Scots a first-half lead.

Tommy Jonsson grabbed the winner with only four minutes left in this Group Four qualifier in which Marcus Lantz was sent off in the 54th minute for stamping on Hamilton. The Hearts' striker had earlier scored his third successive goal for the Under-21s. Stephen McMillan delivered a fine ball to the far post, Lee McCulloch played it across and Hamilton got the final touch.

Sweden, who won the opening match in the group 4-1 last year, drew level seven minutes before half-time. Germaine flapped at a free-kick floated in by Marcus Vaapil and Olof Mellberg steered the ball home.

But just when the Scots thought they had earned a point, Germaine should have cut out a 25-yard free-kick from Jonsson only to lose his bearings and let the ball go under his body.

SWEDEN U-21: Gustafsson; Corneliusson, Mellberg, Jonsson, Vaapil (J Andersson, 51), Persson, D. Andersson, Lantz, Ljungberg, Blomqvist (Aslund, 71), Gallo (Svensson, 79). Substitutes not used: Holmberg, Barlin.

SCOTLAND U-21: Germaine (WBA); Anderson (Aberdeen), Davidson (St Johnstone), Buchan (Aberdeen), Dods (Hibs), McCluskey (St Johnstone), Young (Aberdeen), McCulloch (Motherwell), Hamilton (Hearts), Rowson (Aberdeen), McMillan (Motherwell). Substitutes: Bagan (Kilmarnock) for Young, 57); O'Neill (Clyde) for McCulloch, 67). Substitutes not used: Meldrum (Kilmarnock), Naysmith (Hearts), Denham (Motherwell).

Referee: Ml Lubos (Slovakia).