Empty stands witness history as Scotland win first shootout
Clarke’s men survive two hours of sheer tension as Israel pay the penalty
IT wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t in the slightest bit convincing and, boy, did they leave it late. But the final outcome was all that mattered to Scotland in their Euro 2020 play- off semifinal at Hampden last night and they managed, after over two hours of almost unbearable tension, to record the win that sent them through to the final at the death.
The national team won the first penalty shoot- out they had ever been involved in 5- 3 after being taken to extra- time for the first time in 59 years and the game finishing 0- 0 at the end of 120 excruciating minutes.
John McGinn slotted home the opening spot kick under the outstretched body of Ofir Marciano and when David Marshall saved brilliantly from Eram Zahavi, the home team had an immediate advantage.
Callum McGregor, Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland all hit the target despite the enormous pressure on their shoulders. But Nir Bitton, Shon Weissman and Mohammad Abu Fani made no mistake for the visitors either. So it fell to Kenny McLean, the Norwich City midfielder who had come on for Stephen O’Donnell in the second period of extra- time to step forward and send his teammates through to the final. He was equal to the task. Cue wild rejoicing.
A significant improvement will be required if Clarke’s men are to defeat Serbia, who edged out Norway 2- 1 after extra- time in Oslo last night, in Belgrade next month and reach their first major tournament since France ’ 98 some 22 years ago.
However, perhaps they will take confidence from a remarkable triumph that stretched their unbeaten run to six. Their preparations can’t possibly be as chaotic. And they should have some key men available again. Hope, as always, springs eternal.
Scotland could have won it in regulation time. Scott McTominay missed an absolute sitter in the first half. They could have snatched at it at the very death too. Liam Cooper hit the post with a header at an Andy Robertson corner. It looked like it was going to be another agonising failure. Maybe this time luck is on the country’s side.
Manager Steve Clarke lost three potential starters, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney, to a single positive coronavirus test the day before the match and three others, Oli Burke, Scott McKenna and Liam Palmer, to injury.
He had to draft two Motherwell players, Declan
Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell, into his starting line- up. Both men had previous international experience Still, it was a much weakened team that took to the field.
The losses of Tierney, who had been by far the best performer in the back three against Israel in the Nations League last month, and McKenna, the first choice centre back, had led to speculation that was perhaps Clarke would revert to a four.
But he persevered with both the same formation and with McTominay, the Manchester United midfielder, at centre half. It was a huge gamble given how poorly the system had functioned in their last double header.
The visitors got into the opposition area far too easily in the 22nd minute when Sheran Yeini supplied Hatem Elhamed. The Celtic man turned inside O’Donnell and got an attempt on target. The home team were fortunate that his club mate McGregor was well positioned to block it.
Scotland didn’t enjoy much joy at the other end of the park either. McGinn had a free shot early on after Lyndon Dykes, playing up front alongside Oliver McBurnie, chested a McGregor cross down to him. The Aston Villa midfielder’s effort sailed well over the crossbar.
It was, not surprisingly for a game of such massive importance, a cagey affair with neither Marshall nor his opposite number Marciano tested greatly.
McTominay, though, should really have put his adopted homeland in front five minutes before half- time when McGinn had a long- range shot deflected out for a corner. He was unmarked when he rose and met Robertson’s delivery. But he headed wide with the net beckoning invitingly.
There was little to give the long- suffering members of Tartan Army watching proceedings at home on television encouragement when the teams trudged off the field at the end of the opening 45 minutes.
Israel midfielder Eyal Golasa curled just over eight minutes after the second- half resumed, but Scotland, perhaps stunned into action by that near thing, suddenly lifted themselves and created several scoring chances in the final third in rapid succession.
McGinn supplied McBurnie, McGinn had an opportunity, Ryan Jack fed Dykes and there was a decent claim for a penalty when Eytan Tibi appeared to handle. The scoreline remained goalless, but it was promising.
McBurnie, the Sheffield United player, had put in a power of work in support of Dykes, but had been unable
to engineer an opening Scotland could capitalise on. His contribution was similar to many of his international appearances. He was replaced by Lawrence Shankland in the 72nd minute. Fraser came on for Jack with eight minutes of regulation time remaining.
Gallagher, who acquitted himself superbly defensively in difficult circumstances and helped his country keep a clean, saw his glancing header at a Robertson corner in the 84th minute spin agonisingly wide.
Callum Paterson came on for Dykes after the game went to extra- time, but it was McGregor, whose first- time volley was cleared off the line as Scotland attacked in numbers, who came closest to netting.
Weissmann got the slightest of touches to an Elhamed cross, but missed his intended target. Then Cooper went close. In the end, it didn’t matter and the desired result was achieved. Bring on Serbia.