Poland v Scotland LIVE: Nations League result as Andy Robertson dramatically rescues Scots from relegation
Poland 1-2 Scotland: The captain’s last-minute header saved the Scots from automatic relegation, with a play-off to come to stay in League A
Andy Robertson’s last-minute goal saved Scotland from automatic Nations League relegation as the captain’s dramatic header earned Steve Clarke’s side a famous 2-1 win against Poland in Warsaw.
Scotland had to win to avoid finishing bottom of League A1, but turned their run of late misfortunate on its head when Robertson arrived at the back post to thump a powerful header into the net.
Having lost their first three matches of the campaign and drawing 0-0 with Portugal, Scotland ended their winless run with a late win over Croatia on Friday before earning back-to-back wins with victory against Poland.
Scotland made the perfect start when John McGinn converted a chance inside just three minutes but Poland’s Kamil Piątkowski arrowed a stunning strike into the top to equalise on 60 minutes.
At one stage, with Portugal beating Croatia in Zagreb, another goal would have lifted Scotland to second place - enough to progress to the quarter-finals and claim a seeded place in World Cup qualifying.
But it finished as a draw in Zagreb, which means Scotland will play a relegation play-off against one of the runners-up from League B in March in a bid to retain their top-tier status.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
76 mins
McTominay makes way for Scotland, and Ryan Gauld comes on, while Ralston comes off for Devlin.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
73 mins
Robertson and McGinn combine well down the left and the former clips a good cross into the box, but the ‘keeper does well to collect.
Poland make another change as Swiderski comes off for Urbanski.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
71 mins
Christie is booked for flying in on Puchacz.
Croatia have equalised against Portugal, so as it stands Scotland are getting relegated.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
69 mins
Robertson’s corner is flicked on by McLean and it’s headed just off the line by Walukiewicz, and Scotland commit a foul on the ‘keeper as they try and turn the ball in.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
68 mins
Lovely work from Gilmour to nutmeg his man and play Scotland out of trouble in their own half. The away side have a spell of possession here, and it ends with Ralston receiving the ball on the overlap and winning a corner as his cross is deflected out.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
66 mins
Poland have just made a sub, with Puchacz replacing Kaminski, while Scotland have also made a double change.
Doak and Dykes make way for Christie and Shankland. Not a change I would have made – Doak was excellent all evening.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
64 mins
CLOSE! Doak is at the centre of things again, laying it off to Gilmour, who’s deflected cross is at the perfect height for Dykes to power a header goalwards. It briefly looks like it’s nestling in the back of the net, but Skorupski makes a great sprawling save.
Poland 1-1 Scotland
61 mins
Real end-to-end stuff here as Robertson charges forward, but his cross is cut out. There’s a break for both sides now as goalscorer Piatowksi is down for treatment.
GOAL! Poland 1-1 Scotland
59 mins
GOAL! The curse of the ‘commentator’.
It’s an unstoppable strike from Piatowski to level it.
There’s some pinball in the Scotland box and it’s laid off to Piatwoski. He hits it first time, cutting across it a little with plenty of backspin, and it flies right into the roof of the net in the opposite corner. What a goal that is.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments