Scotland 3-1 Greece: Steve Clarke’s aspect come from behind to maintain World Cup qualifying hopes alive

Scotland’s World Cup hopes stay very a lot alive after coming from behind to stun Greece 3-1 at Hampden Park.

As Steve Clarke took cost of a record-equalling 71st Scotland recreation, he was seeking to preserve hopes of ending a 27-year absence from soccer’s largest match on monitor.

However because the Scots struggled, Greece ultimately took benefit of their dominance as Kostas Tsimikas fired them in entrance simply after half-time.

That was the spark the Scots wanted as Ryan Christie slammed in a fast equaliser earlier than Lewis Ferguson’s first worldwide objective gave them a shock lead.

Lyndon Dykes added a late third to maintain Scotland behind Group C leaders Denmark on objective distinction with Belarus subsequent up at Hampden on Sunday.

Scotland’s essential Hampden victory

It was a subdued ambiance inside Hampden Park because the Tartan Military felt the nerves of what was at stake.

Greece dominated the opening phases and Vangelis Pavlidis ought to have had them forward early on, however failed to go in Tasos Bakasetas’ ball on the again publish.

The guests had a lot of the possession early on as Steve Clarke’s aspect seemed to make use of the tempo of Ben Gannon-Doak down the left with little success.

There have been boos on the half-time whistle which did little to encourage the Scots who had been fired one other warning from Greece simply after the restart when Pavlidis headed Kostas Tsimikas’ ball over the bar.

Aaron Hickey limped off, changed by Anthony Ralston, with Gannon-Doak additionally hooked as Clarke seemed to Billy Gilmour to inject some vitality into the aspect.

It was Greece who took a deserved lead as Tsimikas steered the ball into the underside nook because the Tartan Military feared their World Cup hopes had been fading.

However someway, Scotland had been degree simply minutes later when Christie bundled Grant Hanley’s ball into the online, which was ultimately given after a protracted VAR verify for offside.

Hampden Park then got here to life.

Che Adams noticed his effort deflected extensive earlier than, someway, Scotland had been forward as Ferguson smashed Andy Robertson’s ball into the roof of the online for his first worldwide objective.

Either side had been denied late penalty shouts with Angus Gunn producing a fingertip save to cease Konstantelias Karetsas snatching a late draw.

Dykes was gifted his tenth Scotland objective in stoppage time as he was left with an empty web after Konstantinos Tzolakis’ made a large number of attempting to maintain the ball in on the byline.

The World Cup dream was again on as Flower of Scotland rang round Hampden. A nation continues to imagine.

‘They by no means know after they’re beat’

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke:

“I’ve spoken often about the character and the attitude of this group, the Scottish public should love to have them because they never know when they’re beat.

“They wish to be remembered as a extremely profitable group of gamers. Hopefully they’re on their means to do this. That is three factors, we have one other recreation on Sunday and we have now to verify we get three factors.

“Results are the only thing that qualify you for a major tournament. I think that’s one of the things that this group of players understand, you have to get the points.

“I assumed when it went 1-1, they might scent an opportunity to win the sport. They grabbed it with each arms, so it is actually good.

“Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve in football. Sometimes you get a little bit more than you deserve.”

Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers

• Belarus (H) – October 12
• Greece (A) – November 15
• Denmark (H) – November 18