CZECH MATE

Promotion dream over as Scots’ defeat hands rivals top spot

SCOTLAND were unable to book-end a memorable international break with another night of celebration in Israel last night.

Just six days after a heroic effort against Serbia in Belgrade saw them qualify for the European Championship next summer, a solitary goal by Manor Solomon denied them Nations League promotion.

Defeat last night in Netanya, coupled with Czech Republic’s victory over Slovakia, means Scotland finish in second place.

Had they been asked before the international break, Scotland’s players might privately have taken European Championship qualification out of a gruelling run of three international games, particularly given the confidence-boosting nature of their win over Serbia.

But after last week’s penalty shoot-out win delivered such momentum, there will be frustration all round at a missed opportunity for promotion.

Finishing top would have offered the back-up of a potential 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off berth should they fail by the conventional route.

S c o t l a n d ’s run of nine unbeaten matches had ended against Slovakia on Sunday, but the 11 men who had started in the win over Serbia i n Belgrade started again here.

Ma n a g e r Steve

Clarke (right) al so risked captain Andy Robertson despite the Liverpool player complaining about a tight hamstring at the weekend.

Scotland, very lively early on, looked like they meant business right from the start.

Stephen O’donnell might have hit the target just short of the half-hour mark only to hook a shot wildly across goal and John Mcginn saw a cute glancing header turned over by

Ofir Marciano. In between, Ryan Christie, the hero in Belgrade, had one of those nights when the gods balanced things up.

He struggled to to make the right decision and the right pass at the right time. Israel took the lead against the run of play but what an excellent finish it was by Solomon. Scott Mctominay, playing out of position on the right side of a back three, will not look back on the goal as his finest moment.

Shakhtar Donetsk star Solomon turned the Manchester United midfielder inside out on the edge of the box and rifled a left-foot shot past keeper David

Marshall. Sub Scott Mckenna flashed a late header narrowly wide as the Scots searched for a leveller, and then Leigh Griffiths scuffed a left-foot halfvolley.

Scotland midfielder Callum Mc G r e g o r said: “I t ’s a disappointing result but we have to look at the fact we’ve qualified for the Euros as a positive.”

ISRAEL: Marciano 7, Dasa 7, Yeini 6 (Dgani 78), Tibi 5, Bitton 5, Menachem 5, Lavi 5 (Abu Fani 78), Natkho 5 (Golasa 62 6), Soloman 7 (Cohen 84), Zahavi 6, Weissman 6

SCOTLAND: Marshall 5, Mctominay 6, Gallagher 7 (Mckenna 73), Tierney 6,

O’donnell 5 (Burke 74), Mcgregor 6 (Mclean 82), Jack 7, Robertson 6, Christie 6, Dykes 5 (Mcburnie 61 6), Mcginn 6 (Griffiths 62, 6)

REFEREE: Pawel Raczkowski