ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI SCORED four minutes into stoppage time to earn Poland a 2-2 Group D draw with Scotland at Hampden that ends the hosts’ slender hopes of earning a place at Euro 2016.
The Poles got off to a flying start when Lewandowski continued his rich vein of goal-scoring form as he slotted home a third minute opener.
Matt Ritchie restored parity in the 45th minute with a wonder strike from 25 yards before Steven Fletcher fired Scotland in front with a sensational shot in the 62nd minute.
With time running out Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski bundled the ball over the line to keep his side just a point behind Ireland, who they face in a final showdown in Warsaw on Sunday, after they produced a shock 1-0 defeat of group leaders Germany in Dublin.
Scotland knew all about the danger posed by Lewandowski, arguably Europe’s in-form striker with 12 goals in his previous four matches, but they were helpless to stop him opening the scoring with just over two minutes played.
Arkadiusz Milik’s through ball sliced open the Scottish defence, who were claiming offside, allowing the Bayern Munich hitman to race in on goal and slot a low shot under David Marshall to beat him at his near post.
At times it felt like a home game for Poland, such was the noise being generated by a large travelling support.
The stunned Scotland fans eventually found their voice and urged their team on as they pushed for an opening but couldn’t find a way past a Polish defensive unit that had conceded just seven goals in qualifying.
The Poles, safe in the knowledge victory would claim their place in France, seemed content to sit back and utilise their forward line’s incredible pace to hit Scotland on the break.
Milik fired a shot wildly over the bar but moments later former captain Jakub Blaszcykowski was inches away from adding to their advantage with a shot that fizzed narrowly wide.
Scotland began to produce more as the game headed to the break with a period of sustained pressure on the Polish goal ending with Ritchie sending a low drive well wide of the target.
The Bournemouth winger made amends for that miss as he blasted a wonder strike past Lukasz Fabianski to draw Scotland level with the last kick of the half.
James Forrest cut in from the left and picked out Ritchie who took a touch before rifling a left-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the net with Fabianski stranded.
The second half started in explosive fashion with Marshall producing a superb one-handed save to deny Milik before Steven Naismith missed a golden chance as he failed to make a proper connection with Steven Whittaker’s cross.
Lewandowski sent a shot over the bar after being picked out by Lukasz Piszczek before Fletcher produced a moment of magic to fire Scotland in front.
The ball came to the much-maligned Sunderland striker on the right of the box and he sent a sensational first-time left-foot strike flying past Fabianski.
Poland missed chances through Tomasz Jodlowiec and Piszczek before a scramble in the box following a free-kick in stoppage time saw Lewandowski prod the ball over the line for an equaliser that sent Scotland out.
Pity Polad equalised, would have only needed a draw on Sunday to automatically qualify if it stayed 2 – 1, but amazing result from Ireland either way and great finish from Long, delighted for him.
Rare situation for us. We literally have nothing to lose but everything to gain, like the France game in 2009. Should be going out to score goals. 2-2 or a win is doable.
His sound like that lewadowski, great finish though
A goal machine.
I was delighted when he scored because I thought we would conceed against Germany but now we got the win, I’m pi$$ed off
Just have to go for it now.
No psychological complications or deliberations.
Win the game or else.
Yeah, let’s let’s Poland play Turkey or Ukraine.
100%
You beauty
We’re not there yet no sir..
1-1 F*CK
2-1 to scotland
Who bloody cares
No……just sayin
Any one watching it? Who on top?
nice, this game is our only hope now
2-1 Scotland
Men against boys here. Given goes off and we bring on WHO ???? Why isn’t Westwood on that bench ?
Because Darren Randolph’s a good keeper!!
Never heard of him before today
Offside ???
Do u care?
The great thing about Sunday us that we have nothing to lose. We are already in the play offs and would have absolutely taken that before the Germany game. Now all the pressure is all on Poland to qualify automatically while we will be bursting with confidence after the Germany victory. I expect us to play with a lot of self belief, keep the ball more and make plenty of chances on Sunday.