Scotland boosted their hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup as they came from behind at Hampden Park to beat Greece 3-1 in qualifying.
Greece won 3-0 at Hampden in March to condemn Scotland to Nations League relegation, and they were dominant for long periods on Thursday.
The visitors took a deserved lead in the 62nd minute through Kostas Tsimikas, only for Ryan Christie to reply almost instantly with an equaliser against the run of play.
And Hampden was sent into raptures when Lewis Ferguson completed the turnaround by bundling home after Greece failed to clear a free-kick. Lyndon Dykes then added the finishing touch in injury time after a dreadful error from Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Scotland are level on seven points with Group C leaders Denmark, with Greece four points further back. A win over Belarus on Sunday, combined with a Greece defeat in Copenhagen, would guarantee at least a play-off spot for Scotland.
Greece eventually make dominance pay
Greece immediately looked primed to replicate their Nations League display and should have taken an early lead, but Vangelis Pavlidis failed to make contact with Anastasios Bakasetas’ low delivery with the goal at his mercy for a tap-in.
Pavlidis spurned another huge chance early in the second half when he headed well over from the centre of the box, before Giorgos Masouras was afforded the freedom of the area, but only succeed in lashing over the top.
Scotland right-back Aaron Hickey was forced off through injury in concerning scenes for manager Steve Clarke, whose evening took a further turn for the worse when Tsimikas finally made the hosts pay.
Christos Tzolis and Bakasetas linked up on the right and, after Pavlidis’ initial effort was blocked, Tsimikas powered beyond Angus Gunn.
But Greece’s lead lasted just two minutes.
Scotland’s decisive response
Christie restored parity with a first-time effort after a corner was helped back into the box by Anthony Ralston. The ball eventually fell to Bournemouth’s Christie, who made no mistake with an emphatic finish.
That goal woke a subdued Hampden, which was sent rocking 10 minutes from time when Ferguson pounced following more defensive failings from the stunned visitors.
Konstantinos Karetsas drew a stunning injury-time save from Gunn as Greece sought a leveller, but a dreadful piece of goalkeeping sealed their fate.
Tzolakis’ efforts to prevent the ball from going out for a corner in the 93rd minute instead led to them handing it on a plate to a gleeful Dykes, who lashed into the empty net to secure victory.
Add Comment