The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Impressive Scots beat Lithuania 3-0 to keep World Cup dream alive.
LITHUANIA 0, SCOTLAND 3: Strachan’s men impress
A terrific Scotland performance, led by two former Dundee United stars, kept their World Cup hopes alive in Lithuania.
A bullet header from Stuart Armstrong on 25 minutes was followed five minutes later by a sublime Andy Robertson strike.
Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur made it 3-0 on 70 minutes, and that was that.
It was thrilling to see Robertson and Armstrong shine at international level, and it was a sight familiar to all who watched the pair when they were team-mates at Tannadice.
It wasn’t just the comfortable win over Lithuania in Vilnius that was to be celebrated, but the manner of the display.
Gordon Strachan’s men were tenacious in attack as they came right at the Lithuanians in a ferocious first half.
The second half wasn’t quite so brilliant, albeit they added another goal, but the victory sets them up for the visit of Malta to Hampden on Monday night.
They now sit with 11 points in Group F, level with Slovenia but still four behind secondplaced Slovakia, who won 1-0 against the Slovenians last night.
Some feared Scotland’s World Cup dream would melt on the plastic in Vilnius but instead it was recycled.
The visitors played as if they didn’t have a care in the world, never mind worrying about the LFF Stadium’s artificial surface.
Lively and inventive, the Scots took a well-deserved lead on 25 minutes when former Dundee United star Stuart Armstrong headed home a Leigh Griffiths corner.
Then a quite beautiful goal from ex-Tangerines full-back Andy Robertson on the half-hour mark made it two as Gordon Strachan’s players caused utter chaos in the home defence.
James McArthur made it 3-0 on 72 minutes and it was all over.
The watchword for Strachan pre-match was “believe” and suddenly Group F looks better, especially with the points tally now 11 and with a home game against minnows Malta to come on Monday night.
It may have been the late, late show, with the match not kicking off until a quarter to 10 local time, but Scotland’s players were definitely wide awake, right from the first whistle.
There were three changes to the line-up for the 2-2 draw with England, with McArthur, Matt Phillips and James Forrest in for Ikechi Anya, James Morrison and Robert Snodgrass.
No fewer than six Celtic players made it: Armstrong, Griffiths, keeper Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, captain Scott Brown and Forrest.
Remarkably, the only survivor from the side that started the 1-1 draw against Lithuania last October was Robertson.
The match came to life on six minutes when a great run by Robertson saw him pick out Griffiths just outside the box. The Hoops striker took a touch, spun around and then fired wide of the post.
The next chance was made at Celtic Park, with Forrest, Tierney and Armstrong linking up before the former Tannadice man curled the ball wide.
On 10 minutes, though, the home team almost took the lead when James McArthur gave away good possession. Arvydas Novikovas turned Scots defender Christophe Berra inside out before pulling his shot wide.
Just a minute later, Phillips blasted a strike over as the Lithuanian defence struggled to cope with the visitors’ pace before Armstrong just missed the post with a drive from 25 yards.
On 21 minutes, a superbly-struck set-piece from 30 yards by Novikovas had Gordon producing an excellent save to push the ball away for a corner.
It was almost Griffiths-like and, almost on cue, the Scotland striker stepped up at the other end to fire a free-kick just wide.
After another Griffiths shot was deflected wide, the Scots took a dramatic lead on 25 minutes.
The frontman took the corner from the right and Armstrong bulleted home
a header to make it 1-0. It was the Aberdeen-born player’s first goal for his country and you imagine many more will follow. Just five minutes later and it was two. Nice work on the left flank from Phillips saw him find Forrest and then the ball made its way to Robertson just outside the area.
The former Tannadice star, now lording it at Liverpool, took a touch with his right before scooping his left-foot shot high into the net.
It was a brilliant strike and the Scots were roared off at half-time by the Tartan Army.
On 52 minutes, Robertson swung a cross over from the left that was met by Griffiths but the ball squeezed past the back post.
Scotland’s players were loving it out there but they got a reminder on the hour mark that Lithuania were still battling away, with Hibs player Vykintas Slivka missing a good chance right in front of goal.
Forrest was replaced by Matt Ritchie on 66 minutes before Charlie Mulgrew was booked for fouling Darvydas Sernas.
With 70 minutes on the clock, Armstrong shot straight at keeper Ernestas Setkus but just two minutes later it was 3-0.
McArthur’s close-range shot struck the goalie on its way into the net after some terrible defending from the hosts but the Scot wasn’t caring how it came about.
Griffiths made way for Chris Martin on 79 minutes then, an outstanding night’s work done, Armstrong made way for John McGinn.
The Scots comfortably saw out the match, with subs Ritchie and Martin both coming close late on.