GREAT SCOTT IS AT IT AGAIN
SCOTT McTominay continued his stunning Euro 2024 qualifying form as Scotland brushed aside Cyprus 3-0 to move within touching distance of Germany.
The Manchester United midfielder opened the scoring in the sixth minute in the AEK Arena in Larnaca with his sixth in five games before Ryan Porteous volleyed in his first international goal nine minutes later.
The three points were effectively secured in the 29th minute when McTominay set up John McGinn for a third – and the Old Trafford man also hit the woodwork late on as the visitors cruised to victory.
Steve Clarke’s side have now won five out of five Group A qualifiers to sit nine points ahead of Spain having played two fixtures more.
Scotland host England in a 150th anniversary heritage match on Tuesday night and if Norway and Georgia draw the same evening then the Scots will have reached their second successive Euros.
Form
Scotland could hardly have been in better form going into the match in Larnaca, having gone eight competitive games unbeaten, including wins over Spain and Norway.
And it seemed like a Scotland home game with more than the official 3,728 Tartan Army members inside the 8,056-capacity stadium.
Temur Ketsbaia’s team had lost their opening three qualifiers, including a 3-0 defeat at Hampden in March, and so confidence was rightly high in the visiting camp.
Che Adams, rather than Lyndon Dykes, led the line, closely supported by McGinn and McTominay, and they all combined for the opener.
Andy Robertson stood his cross up, and McGinn flicked on for McTominay to head in at the back post.
Tested
Grigoris Kastanos tested Scotland keeper
Angus Gunn with a longrange drive before the Scots doubled their lead.
Robertson’s deep freekick in to the home penalty area was headed on by Jack Hendry and Porteous took a touch before firing home.
Just before the halfhour a fine move down the right ended with McTominay setting up McGinn to curl in his
17th Scotland goal.
The tension had gone from the game but Kastanos again made Gunn react quickly to save another effort.
Scotland bossed the final stages and in the 74th minute McTominay’s right-footed shot from the edge of the box beat Mall but rebounded off the post.
England are next, always a massive game, but the Tartan Army will have one eye on Oslo.