Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OH ECK , IT’S YOU AGAIN!
Ghosts haunt Mcleish as they suffer repeat defeat
ITALIA 90 came back to haunt Scotland as Alex Mcleish suffered another 1-0 defeat against one of their World Cup ghosts.
Scotland looked second best from the start against a team who face Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia at the World Cup.
Bryan Oviedo’s dangerous cross after six minutes needed Scotland captain Charlie Mulgrew to head clear.
Scotland boss Mcleish’s desire to play with three at the back created some alarming space for the visitors and after 14 minutes, that proved to be Scotland’s undoing.
Oviedo found space on the left before firing a cross into the box where striker Marco Urena used a cushioned side-foot to steer the ball home with a cool finish, low beyond Allan Mcgregor at his left-hand post.
Scotland almost responded immediately when Matt Ritchie fired in a corner and Callum Paterson’s effort went just wide.
Oviedo caused a lot of concern at the back for Scotland as the visitors’ confidence grew.
But Scotland finally started moving in the right direction as the half wore on, with the best effort coming when Oli Mcburnie tested Real Madrid keeper Keylor Navas with a shot that stung his hands.
Mcburnie was at the centre of the action again 10 minutes from the break when Andrew Robertson made a break down the left wing and sent in a cross for Mcburnie to attack. He ended up on the ground screaming for a penalty but his appeals were waved away.
Three minutes into the second half, Scotland were almost two down. Bryan Ruiz slipped past Robertson and clipped the bar with a fierce drive.
Navas ensured the visitors held their lead midway through the second half when Mcgregor found Ritchie but his drive was parried onto the roof of the net.
And four minutes from time, Paterson turned provider for Robertson with a cross the Liverpool leftback headed just wide.