Daily Mirror

Aidy’s Lions Dom-inate

Scots handed Euro lifeline

- 45% 4 6 5 3 7 2 0 55% 3 3 8 2 12 0 3 TREBLE ROUSER

JAMES FORREST scored a stunning Nations League hat-trick to book Scotland’s place in the play-offs for the 2020 European Championsh­ip.

Alex McLeish’s side needed victory to leapfrog the visitors to the top of Group C1, but ex-Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal stunned the home support in the ninth minute when he curled in a shot from 30 yards.

However, Hoops winger Forrest, who had scored his first two Scotland goals in the 4-0 win over Albania on Saturday, notched twice in the first half before grabbing a third in the 63rd minute from close range with another assured finish.

Midfielder Eran Zahavi reduced the deficit with a fearsome drive in the 75th minute and – amid a nervy finish – only a great save from Scotland keeper Allan McGregor denied the visitors a late equaliser.

The Scots finished with nine points from 12 and can park their play-off fixture until March 2020 and concentrat­e on the traditiona­l European Championsh­ip qualifiers which take place in 2019, with the draw made on December 2 in Dublin.

Hampden Park was only around half full on a wet and wild evening which appeared to dampen the ardour of the home side in the opening minutes when they fell behind.

Kayal’s cross had been turned into his own net by Kieran Tierney for the winner in Israel but this time the goal was certainly his, with the Brighton player taking a pass from Zahavi before firing high past McGregor.

However, Scotland began to build momentum and in the 34th minute Forrest was on hand to fire low past Ariel Harush from 12 yards after Stuart Armstrong’s drive was blocked.

The home fans’ mood was further lifted two minutes before the break when midfielder Ryan Christie ran on to a Steven Fletcher header and played in Forrest who was again unerring in his powerful finish.

Fletcher headed a Forrest corner over the bar and Callum McGregor drove over as the Scots came out emboldened at the start of the second half. They made it 3-1 when an incisive Scottish attack down the left ended with Fraser cutting the ball back for Forrest to side foot home.

It was still not over, however, Zahavi thundering a 20-yard drive past the flailing McGregor with 15 minutes left.

With three minutes remaining, McGregor made a wonder save from Tomer Hemed’s close-range effort.

A relieved Tartan Army cheered referee Tobias Welz’s final whistle. SCOTLAND: MOTM Scotland Israel Albania P W D L F A Pt 4 3 0 1 10 4 9 4 2 0 2 6 5 6 4 1 0 3 1 8 3 Under-21 friendly

DOMINIC SOLANKE and Dominic Calvert-Lewin each grabbed a brace as England thrashed Denmark to extend their unbeaten run to an impressive 22 games.

Liverpool’s Solanke (top) headed Aidy Boothroyd’s England to a 2-0 lead after Demarai Gray’s opener.

Marcus Ingvartsen pulled one back for Denmark before half-time in Esbjerg.

But Solanke struck again with a cheeky backheel and Calvert-Lewin added two more late goals, including a penalty for handball.

The draw for the U-21s European Championsh­ip finals in Italy next summer takes place on Friday.

MATCH STATS

 ??  ?? LEAGUE C, GROUP 1 Forrest is the toast of his team-mates after completing his superb hat-trick
LEAGUE C, GROUP 1 Forrest is the toast of his team-mates after completing his superb hat-trick
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