Andy Robertson’s last-minute goal saved Scotland from automatic Nations League relegation as the captain’s dramatic header earned Steve Clarke’s side a famous 2-1 win against Poland in Warsaw.
Scotland had to win to avoid finishing bottom of League A1, but turned their run of late misfortunate on its head when Robertson arrived at the back post to thump a powerful header into the net.
Having lost their first three matches and drawing 0-0 with Portugal, Scotland ended their winless run with a late win over Croatia on Friday before earning back-to-back wins against Portugal.
Scotland made the perfect start when John McGinn converted a chance inside just three minutes but Poland’s Kamil Piątkowski arrowed a stunning strike into the top to equalise on 60 minutes.
At one stage, with Portugal beating Croatia in Zagreb, another goal would have lifted Scotland to second place – enough to progress to the quarter-finals and claim a seeded place in World Cup qualifying.
But it finished as a draw in Zagreb, which means Scotland will play a relegation play-off against one of the runners-up from League B in March in a bid to retain their top-tier status.
FULL-TIME! Poland 1-2 Scotland
Poland are relegated and Scotland live to fight another day in the ‘A’ league – they’ll contest a relegation play-off in March.
Scotland fully deserved the three points tonight, with a performance that was brilliant at times. Either side could have won it in truth, but the Scots were more clinical on the night.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:41
FULL-TIME! Poland 1-2 Scotland
FULL-TIME! Scotland take the most dramatic of three points in Warsaw!
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:39
Poland 1-2 Scotland
Now McGinn is booked for delaying the restart as Zielinski fires a ball into the box which is cleared. Scotland counter and win a free-kick…
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:39
Poland 1-2 Scotland
Buksa was shown a yellow card in amongst all that. Can Scotland hold on?
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:38
GOAL! Poland 1-2 Scotland
GOAL! What a finish! Scotland have surely won it!
The away side continued applying all the pressure and they work it wide to Souttar. He’s in acres of space and he opts to swing in a cross from deep, and Robertson arrives at the back post to deliver a bullet header past Skorupski!
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:37
Poland 1-1 Scotland
Scotland are still having all the ball, but they can’t create a clear-cut chance as McGinn can’t latch on to the long ball forward.
Poland take a chance to attack, but they quickly recycle it backwards.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:36
Poland 1-1 Scotland
It’s Scotland applying the pressure as the 90 minutes draws to a close, with Armstrong winning a corner. He delivers the ball in and the ‘keeper punches it straight to McLean, who tries to loop a header over him but it lands on top of the goal.
There’ll be four minutes of added time in Warsaw.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:34
Poland 1-1 Scotland
One more change for Scotland as Stuart Armstrong comes on for Gilmour.
Scotland work the ball wider to Robertson, who’s come inside a bit, and his early cross wins the away side a corner.
Robertson’s set-piece is headed away to Gauld, who hits a half-cross, half-shot straight out for a goal kick.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:32
Poland 1-1 Scotland
Half a chance for Scotland as McGinn swings in an early cross and Christie dives in to convert it goalwards, but he can’t get clean contact and it runs to Skorupski.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:30
Poland 1-1 Scotland
There’s still time for either side to win this, and you’d imagine there’ll be one more chance for one of them.
It’s Poland with all the possession now though.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 21:29