SCOTLAND SURVIVED LATE pressure to earn a highly respectable 2-2 draw with Poland in a thrilling Euro 2016 qualifying Group D match in Warsaw on Tuesday.
The Poles, still on a high following their historic win over world champions Germany on Saturday, took a 12th-minute lead courtesy of Krzysztof Maczynski.
Scotland immediately responded and Shaun Maloney fired the Dark Blues level in the 19th minute, before Steven Naismith gave Gordon Strachan’s side the lead 12 minutes after the break.
However, Arkadiusz Milik’s wonder goal levelled matters in the 76th minute and Scotland were hanging on towards the end.
The result means Poland top Group D with seven points on goal difference ahead of the Republic of Ireland, who recorded a 1-1 draw with Germany thanks to a last minute equaliser from John O’Shea.
Advertisement
Scotland, who face Ireland in Glasgow next month, sit level with Germany on four points.
Scotland made two changes to the side that defeated Georgia 1-0 on Saturday, with Gordon Greer replacing the injured Grant Hanley while Steven Whittaker was preferred to Andrew Robertson in defence.
The visitors had a bright start but it was Poland who took the lead after some horror defending from Alan Hutton. The Aston Villa defender’s weak attempted clearance fell to Maczynski and his perfectly angled shot left David Marshall with no chance as it clipped the post on its way into the bottom corner.
Scotland soon regained their composure and were level just seven minutes later following a wonderfully worked goal.
Steven Fletcher pivoted on the half-way line and sent a lofted crossfield pass to Ikechi Anya who showed wonderful control to bring the ball down and then cut it back for Maloney to fire the ball under Wojciech Szczesny from 10 yards out.
The equaliser produced an angry reaction from Poland with Waldemar Sobota inches away from connecting with Kamil Glik’s cross before Whittaker’s superb intervention stopped an almost certain goal from Robert Lewandowski after ‘keeper Marshall had been caught out.
Poland then threatened to retake the lead as a long through ball from Artur Jedrzejczyk sent Lewandowski through on goal but this time the onrushing Marshall put the Bayern Munich hitman off his stride and his flicked effort failed to find the target.
Scotland soaked up a lot of pressure from Poland at the start of the second half before they moved in front for the first time in the 57th minute. James Morrison lofted a dangerous free-kick into the box and Naismith produced the deftest of touches to direct it into the bottom corner of the net.
Poland could have been level five minutes later when Milik was presented with a free header 10 yards out but his effort dropped onto the roof of the net.
Maloney came close to a second in the 75th minute when the ‘keeper did well to turn his fierce shot on the half-volley out for a corner.
However, a wonder strike from Milik moved Poland level a minute later. Jedrzejczyk played the ball in behind Hutton for the Ajax striker, who rifled an unstoppable shot past the helpless Marshall.
Poland rally to share points with Scotland
SCOTLAND SURVIVED LATE pressure to earn a highly respectable 2-2 draw with Poland in a thrilling Euro 2016 qualifying Group D match in Warsaw on Tuesday.
The Poles, still on a high following their historic win over world champions Germany on Saturday, took a 12th-minute lead courtesy of Krzysztof Maczynski.
Scotland immediately responded and Shaun Maloney fired the Dark Blues level in the 19th minute, before Steven Naismith gave Gordon Strachan’s side the lead 12 minutes after the break.
However, Arkadiusz Milik’s wonder goal levelled matters in the 76th minute and Scotland were hanging on towards the end.
The result means Poland top Group D with seven points on goal difference ahead of the Republic of Ireland, who recorded a 1-1 draw with Germany thanks to a last minute equaliser from John O’Shea.
Scotland, who face Ireland in Glasgow next month, sit level with Germany on four points.
Scotland made two changes to the side that defeated Georgia 1-0 on Saturday, with Gordon Greer replacing the injured Grant Hanley while Steven Whittaker was preferred to Andrew Robertson in defence.
The visitors had a bright start but it was Poland who took the lead after some horror defending from Alan Hutton. The Aston Villa defender’s weak attempted clearance fell to Maczynski and his perfectly angled shot left David Marshall with no chance as it clipped the post on its way into the bottom corner.
Scotland soon regained their composure and were level just seven minutes later following a wonderfully worked goal.
Steven Fletcher pivoted on the half-way line and sent a lofted crossfield pass to Ikechi Anya who showed wonderful control to bring the ball down and then cut it back for Maloney to fire the ball under Wojciech Szczesny from 10 yards out.
The equaliser produced an angry reaction from Poland with Waldemar Sobota inches away from connecting with Kamil Glik’s cross before Whittaker’s superb intervention stopped an almost certain goal from Robert Lewandowski after ‘keeper Marshall had been caught out.
Poland then threatened to retake the lead as a long through ball from Artur Jedrzejczyk sent Lewandowski through on goal but this time the onrushing Marshall put the Bayern Munich hitman off his stride and his flicked effort failed to find the target.
Scotland soaked up a lot of pressure from Poland at the start of the second half before they moved in front for the first time in the 57th minute. James Morrison lofted a dangerous free-kick into the box and Naismith produced the deftest of touches to direct it into the bottom corner of the net.
Poland could have been level five minutes later when Milik was presented with a free header 10 yards out but his effort dropped onto the roof of the net.
Maloney came close to a second in the 75th minute when the ‘keeper did well to turn his fierce shot on the half-volley out for a corner.
However, a wonder strike from Milik moved Poland level a minute later. Jedrzejczyk played the ball in behind Hutton for the Ajax striker, who rifled an unstoppable shot past the helpless Marshall.
A drone temporarily stopped tonight’s Albania-Serbia game
Snapshot: Home crowd pays tribute to Germany in spectacular fashion
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Euro 2016 Qualifiers Poland Scotland Thriller