John McGinn got here off the bench to attain a late winner as Scotland boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from Nations League A with victory over 10-man Croatia.
The Aston Villa midfielder was surprisingly not noted of the beginning XI however made a match-winning contribution 4 minutes from full-time, capitalising on good work from the spectacular Ben Doak.
Scotland can now keep away from backside spot in Group 1 with a win in Poland on Monday, though hopes of a second-placed end and a extra beneficial World Cup draw are fading. They have to beat Poland and hope Croatia lose to Portugal to face any probability.
FULL TIME: Scotland 1-0 Croatia.
Tremendous John McGinn wins it late on at Hampden Park 🦸♂️#SCOCRO pic.twitter.com/e5DOuwDi9i
— Scotland Nationwide Staff (@ScotlandNT) November 15, 2024
Croatia out of luck
The outcome was arguably harsh on a Croatia facet that regarded in a special class till referee Orel Grinfeeld determined to dish out a second yellow to Petar Sucic simply earlier than half-time.
Even then the guests had possibilities to win it within the second half however had been let down by poor ending.
Scotland appeared nervous within the opening levels and Croatia might have gone forward twice inside the primary 10 minutes.
First Luca Sucic shot wastefully over the bar on the far publish after Mateo Kovacic stole possession off Billy Gilmour within the centre of the sphere.
Then Scotland had been indebted to Craig Gordon’s lanky body because the 41-year-old one way or the other managed to get a toe on Andrej Kramaric’s shot at his close to publish with the ball clipping the skin of the publish on its means broad.
Scotland had been being starved of possession with Kovacic and the evergreen Luka Modric dominating the ball in midfield.
It took the hosts 18 minutes to create something as an attacking power and it virtually led to a different worldwide purpose for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay.
Doak bought down the precise and his cross was good for McTominay to get his shot away but it surely was straight at Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.
Sucic sees purple
Petar Sucic’s first yellow got here for a foul on Gilmour on the half-hour mark and the Dinamo Zagreb midfielder clearly hadn’t realized his lesson as he then barged needlessly into John Souttar on the midway line, albeit contact appeared minimal, and was dismissed two minutes earlier than the break.
The sending-off modified the sport and slightly than bossing the ball, Croatia had been happier to sit down deep and permit Scotland to dictate.
The hosts failed to check Kotarski, although.
Gilmour twice shot over when properly positioned whereas Doak volleyed excessive and broad on the far publish after good work down the left by substitute Ryan Gauld.
Pasalic fluffs his second
Certainly, it was the ten males of Croatia who had the higher possibilities. Ivan Perisic fired broad after Andy Robertson bought caught below a cross earlier than a beautiful cross from Modric put Mario Pasalic clear by way of however he toe-poked his shot horribly broad of Gordon’s left-hand publish.
Croatia would come to rue these misses as McGinn lastly capitalised on extra wonderful work from Doak.
The winger had given Josko Gvardiol a torrid night time and from one other of his crosses Scotland lastly scored.
The centre was palmed clear by Kotarski and McGinn ran onto it and struck the ball sweetly on the half-volley into the web.
