Finals fling into sight

on 22 minutes, they finally threatened the opposition goal. It all started with a strong forward run by Stuart Armstrong and ended with Israeli keeper Ariel Harush pushing Callum McGregor’s shot away for a corner.

As the match approached the halfhour, defender Scott McKenna stooped down to head a corner wide then Forrest had his path to goal blocked.

The visitors were still a threat and Hampden held its breath on 32 minutes when Zahavi curled the ball right across the face of goal.

However, the home fans were cheering on 34 minutes when Scotland hauled themselves level.

There was yet more good work from Armstrong, who had a shot charged down. Forrest pounced on the loose ball, took a terrific first touch then slammed home a low drive with his right boot from 14 yards.

That finally got the supporters singing and they were in full voice again just two minutes before the break when Scotland took a 2-1 lead.

It was a snappy break started by an Andy Robertson ball up to Steven Fletcher.

The frontman head-flicked on to Ryan Christie, who burst upfield before playing an excellent ball across that was collected by Forrest with yet another sublime first touch. His second touch was a low, driven strike that once again sailed past goalie Harush.

The Scots came out for the second half unchanged and made yet another slow start.

They had a chance on 53 minutes, though, when Fletcher nodded Ryan Fraser’s corner a yard or so over Israel’s bar.

The danger now was that the home team would get deeper and deeper as they tried to hang on to their lead but there was no need to worry as fabulous Forrest grabbed his hat-trick.

With 64 minutes gone, the Scots surged forward up the left. Fraser was the architect of the goal, slipping and sliding his way into the Israeli box before sliding a low ball to Forrest.

The Celtic star took yet another brilliant first touch to make room for his shot before slamming the ball home.

The supporters sang “There’s only one James Forrest” and that must have been music to the Hoops player’s ears.

It looked then like it would be their night but that was put in doubt when Zahavi slammed home his shot from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to go to close the gap to just one goal.

They then had goalie McGregor to thank for a wonder save with just two minutes left, the Rangers number one somehow stopping Israeli sub Tomer Hemed’s close-range effort.

The visitors poured forward in the final minutes but the Scots did just enough and it’s the play-offs here we come. Scotland: Allan McGregor, Paterson, Bates, McKenna, Robertson, Forrest, Callum McGregor, Armstrong (Phillips 76), Fraser, Christie (Shinnie 76), Fletcher (McTominay 87). Subs not used: Bain, Fleck, Hendry, Mackay-Steven, McBurnie, Russell, MacDonald.

Israel: Harush, Dasa, Yeini, Taha (Cohen 67), Ben Haroush, Tawatha (Hemed 85), Peretz (Saba 73), Natcho, Kayal, Dabbur, Zahavi. Subs not used: Haimov, Glazer, Habashi, Tzedek, Sahar, Micha, Solomon, Bitton, Amos.

Referee: Tobias Welz (Germany). Scotland Israel Albania P 4 4 4 WD 3 0 20 10 L 1 2 3 F Pts 10 4 9 656 183

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