McGINN BACK IN BUSINESS
Scotland’s talisman earns redemption as crucial strike ignites Hampden
THAT miss in June shouldn’t weigh quite so heavily on John McGinn any more. Not after this. Just as it seemed Scotland might not gain just rewards, the midfielder’s personal moment of redemption helped crown a superb team performance — one utterly transformed from the limp loss to Ukraine in the World Cup play-off semi-final.
McGinn has admitted being haunted by his failure to convert from close range in the second half back then, when hope of Qatar drifted away. If that was a moment of utter agony, here was one of sheer bliss. Fittingly, it transpired at the very same end of Hampden.
After Kieran Tierney’s challenge forced the ball in his direction, McGinn used the most effective backside in international football to roll away from Valeriy Bondar. This time, the finish was unerring.
Arrowed into the bottom corner of the net, it delivered a 70th minute breakthrough following a succession of thwarted opportunities. Stuart Armstrong had three alone amid the one-way traffic of the second period. Steve Clarke faced plentiful criticism after the Ukrainians outclassed their hosts three months ago.
Last night, he got everything right to send Scotland surging to the top of Nations League Group B1. It was one of the finest displays in his tenure. An exhibition of the talent within this squad.
A change of system, away from a back three, enabled Scotland to flourish. And Clarke’s substitutions were perfect.
Ryan Fraser and Lyndon Dykes were introduced to wrap up the match. They did so in style. Twice in the last ten minutes, Fraser delivered corners for Dykes to head home.
For the Newcastle winger, this was quite a cameo on his return to the international fold. For Dykes, it was an emphatic way to end a run of just one goal in 24 appearances with club and country.
Scotland have it in their hands now. Even a draw with Republic of Ireland on Saturday evening would leave just a point being required against Ukraine in Poland next Tuesday to top the group. Play like this again and it is eminently possible to secure Nations League promotion and a back-up play-off option for Euro 2024. After all the dismay in June, optimism breathes again.
Ukraine left looking somewhat stunned. Speaking at the prematch media conference, captain Andriy Yarmolenko had stressed the desire to win for their suffering compatriots remained every bit as strong. Once again, each visiting player emerged from the Hampden tunnel draped in their national flag.
Coach Oleksandr Petrakov was missing a few options through injury, most notably Oleksandr Zinchenko. Outstanding in the play-off win, the versatile Arsenal man is sidelined by a calf injury.
For Scotland, Tierney’s return in place of the injured Andy Robertson was one of six changes in personnel made by Clarke from the last meeting. The formation was altered, too.
Scott McTominay was deployed in midfield — rather than centreback — as part of a 4-2-3-1 set-up. Clarke was clearly cognisant of the lessons from June.
A back four with Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna as its central components had to show resilience against talented opponents.
Once the game got underway — after a minute’s applause for the late Queen that generated some booing within the Hampden crowd — Ukraine caused some early alarm when Artem Dovbyk was suddenly sprung into a one-onone against Hendry. A past scorer on this ground, the Dnipro forward couldn’t capitalise.
That little scare stirred Scotland. For most of the first half, Clarke’s side were on the front foot. Ukraine were unable to play around them as happened before.
Tierney’s presence was also significant. He spotted Che Adams peeling out to the left and slid a pass through that channel to meet the striker’s run.
Adams angled his advance towards the area, with Bondar’s slip allowing a strike at goal. His effort was straight at goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Ryan Christie then fizzed one through the sixyard box without finding a taker before a crisp pass into Nathan Patterson saw the ball nicked off the right back’s toes.
Scotland were stretching the visiting defence but couldn’t quite find the final moment of incision. A little more care and composure was needed.
When Patterson crossed from the right, a clever glancing header from McGinn looped off target. The Aston Villa man would soon be the victim of a Taras Stepanenko challenge that delivered the first yellow card of the evening.
Armstrong then delivered for Christie to head over at the near post as Trubin charged out to try and punch. Not very convincingly, it must be said.
A half-chance came Christie’s way when Trubin beat out an
Armstrong snapshot but the Bournemouth man couldn’t quite sort out his feet.
Just as momentum was building, though, a cruel blow was dealt. Patterson went down in pain after attempting a tackle and eventually had to be stretchered from the pitch. Given how well he has been playing after making a breakthrough at Everton, it can only be hoped the damage is not serious.
Another English Premier League talent in Aaron Hickey took over at right-back but the disruption — and concern for a colleague — seemed to stall Scotland a little.
Ukraine threatened sporadically, primarily through the lightning pace of Mykhaylo Mudryk.
But they could easily have been reduced to ten men just before the break. As Adams sought to surge through, he was cleaned out by an outrageous body check from Bondar. The defender raised an elbow into the bargain, but was only shown a yellow by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani. Scotland wanted to see a different colour.
Not surprisingly, Adams required a couple of minutes of treatment. Thankfully, he was able to continue.
Bondar was roundly booed every time he touched the ball as the second period got underway. By then, Petrakov had decided not to risk a second booking for the aggressive Stepanenko, bringing on Serhiy Sydorchuk as his midfield replacement.
Hendry made a terrific challenge on Dovbyk before an offside flag was belatedly raised but it was Scotland who took control. Tierney nicked possession from Oleksandr Karavaev to set up
Armstrong for a shot directly at Trubin. The midfielder’s big opportunity arrived soon after.
McTominay protected the ball before feeding Armstrong with a delightful back-heel. As the goal beckoned, the former Celtic man lost his cool to blaze over from ten yards out.
It felt like it might be a big moment. But Scotland pressed again. Their domination increased.
McGinn crossed for Adams to head against the bar. Moments later, the same combination led to the Southampton striker’s downward nod being denied by Trubin.
When Adams then picked out Armstrong and the midfielder headed wide from a great position, you wondered if the ball would ever go in.
Enter McGinn. And those clinching corners. It was a sensational end to a Hampden evening that will live long in the memory.