Glasgow City star Sophia Martin's double gives Scotland girls qualifying hope as they head into Italy crunch

Sophia Martin’s “best goals ever” have handed Scotland a chance of progression in their European Championships qualifying campaign.

Glasgow City striker Martin, 16, from Rutherglen, climbed off the bench for Pauline MacDonald’s side and netted twice in a 3-1 win over Slovenia in the mini-tournament in Italy on Thursday.

Following on from a 3-0 defeat against holders France, that puts Scotland on a head-on collision with Italy on Sunday to see if they will progress to the second round of games.

Delighted mum Natalie Hall said: “This was her second game. She came on at half-time and she messaged me before the game, saying she hopes she gets on and scores. I told her they will win 3-1!

“She’s ecstatic, she says it’s two of the best goals she has ever scored, and they were outstanding.

“Sophia is special, she will hit them from wherever, but it has given her a bit of a confidence boost, I suppose, and minutes in the tank.

“She plays for Glasgow City, so she obviously just gets game-time whenever, because she’s still developing.

“She had the option of staying to play in the Champions League or going away with Scotland, but she choose Scotland for game-time and representing her country.

“Their last game is against Italy on Sunday.

“Those points against Slovenia were crucial, so we’ll see how it goes, and hopefully we will have a wee happy bunny when Sophia comes home.

“She’s absolutely ecstatic, over the moon. She phoned me right after and said ‘mum, they were my best goals ever’ but she always says that when she scores.

“But they were great goals.”

Natalie added: “Scotland are back on Monday and she’s away straight away to Denmark with Glasgow City for the Champions League two days later.

“She’s travelling the world, doing