The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Campbell strikes to seal win for Scots
Allan Campbell’s late winner keptScotland’shopesofreaching next summer’s European Under-21 Championships alive as he sealed a 1-0 victory over Lithuania.
Scot Gemmill’s team suffered a frustrating goalless draw with the Baltic nation when they met at Tynecastle last October.
And it looked as though they were on for a repeat until Motherwell midfielder Campbell lashed home with nine minutes left.
His goal now leaves the Scots four points behind the Czech Republic with four games left.
And they can now reignite their bid to qualify for the finals in Hungary and Slovenia when they welcome the Group 4 leaders to Edinburgh next month.
Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan has seen no action since moving on loan to Ross County this summer but showed no sign of rust early on as he clawed away Gytis Paulauskas’ header.
The hosts looked lively in the opening minutes but after being forced into a couple of early substitutions, found themselves overrun by Gemmill’s boys.
Rangers winger Glenn Middleton thought he had won his side a penalty after 35 minutes only to be left stunned when the Swedish referee, Bojan Pandzic, booked him for diving even though he had been hauled down by Pijus Sirvys.
The referee was no more generous when a Daniel Harvie strike appeared to be blocked by an arm before it could test
Titas Krapikas in the Lithuanian goal.
But the keeper was called upon twice in quick succession, first brilliantly pushing away a Fraser Hornby free-kick before getting fingertips to David Turnbull’s long-range drive.
Scotlandshouldhavesnatched the lead just before the break, however. More good work by the impressive Middleton down the left saw the ball swung in for Nathan Patterson but his header sailed over.
Linas Megelaitis was lucky to escape a red card for a shocking lunge on Lewis Ferguson midway through the second period – but at least there was no extra injustice when Doohan pulled off a fine save from the winger soon after.
Substitute James Scott wasted another decent opening for the Scots as he fired straight at Krapikas after being played in by Ferguson’s quick free-kick.
Another glaring chance was missed when Campbell could not stretch far enough to control his eight-yard shot from a Hornby cut-back. But the Fir Park ace made amends with nine minutes left as he snatched the winner.
Patterson’s cross was only half-cleared by the hosts and Campbell took full advantage, driving home from the edge of the box with a sublime outsideof-the-foot finish.
Scotland U21: Doohan, Porteous, Patterson (Mayo 85), Johnston, Ross McCrorie, Ferguson, Har vie, Allan Campbell, Turnbull (Scott 61), Hornby, Middleton (McLennan 85). Subs Not Used: Wright, Fiorini, Kelly, McIntyre, Dean Campbell, McCarron.