Late penalty proves costly as Scotland overcome Ireland

UEFA Nations League – League B Group 1

Scotland 2-1 Republic of Ireland

Two second-half goals saw Scotland fight back to secure a hard-earned victory over Ireland in a highly entertaining UEFA Nations League encounter .

John Egan handed Stephen Kenny’s side an 18th-minute lead in what was an evenly contested opening 45 minutes at Hampden Park, however, Steve Clarke’s side got back on terms early in the second half thanks to a Jack Hendry header.

A penalty kick would decide the Glasgow contest following an Alan Browne handball inside the penalty area, and Ryan Christie wrapped up the three points with a coolly taken spot-kick.

Scotland, playing with real intent with a forward four trying to push the visitors back – yet the Irish defence pushed on, crowding the midfield with tackles flying in from all angles and both sides in a frantic start to the game.

The home side were first to get a look at goal as Christie’s shot flew harmlessly wide in the sixth minute, while Scott McTominay then burst into the box two minutes later, but the ball was half-blocked en route to Gavin Bazunu.

Ireland had the ball in the back of the net in the 11th minute as Troy Parrott latched onto a through ball and skipped past a couple of challenges before smashing it into the roof of the net.

But the ripple effect led to an immediate raising of the offside flag; an inevitability waiting to happen as the young Dubliner had set off too early.

But seven minutes later, Ireland were celebrating, making the breakthrough in the 18th minute with a goal from a set-piece.

First of all, Michael Obafemi raced at the retreating defence before playing Parrott in on the right of the penalty box. The striker’s shot was deflected wide for a corner and that led to the breakthrough.

James McClean sent a curling effort into the box but it was only half-cleared as Jayson Molumby threw himself upwards and made good contact to work the ball back towards goal.

Egan was first to react as he spun and smashed a half-volleyed driving effort past Craig Gordon, low to the keeper’s right, to hand Ireland the lead.

The Scots were clearly shaken from the breakthrough and appeared to take an age to get themselves going. Ireland’s energy in midfield was exceptional throughout with Jason Knight covering a remarkable amount of ground.

The home side finally got their passing game going again in the 26th minute and worked the ball inside the Ireland half, McTominay driving his side forward as Christie and then John McGinn threatened without success.

The extended spell of pressure left Ireland entrenched inside their own box for the duration with McGinn again getting a look at goal following a decent knock down by Lyndon Dykes.

In the 34th minute, Ireland eventually moved the play forward as Nathan Collins danced past a couple of navy shirts before Obafemi and Parrott brought McClean into the action, but the attack was held up.

Scotland went down to ten men for a few minutes while readying Greg Taylor, who eventually came on to replace the injured Kieran Tierney, but in the meantime, a perfectly timed run by Dykes handed him a yard on the Irish defence as he raced through on the edge of the box.

But it was excellent defending by Egan, who raced back around to make a perfectly timed blocked tackle to take all the power out of the shot at goal.

Josh Cullen was booked as half-time approached, and within a minute, the Burnley man should probably have received his marching orders as he flew in on Aaron Hickey taking man not ball – referee Sandro Schärer from Switzerland remaining neutral on the second foul, offering a free by way of reparation.

Leading by the only goal at the break, Ireland came flying out for the second half as Matt Doherty worked the ball up the right. Collins again among a plethora of orange jerseys up inside the final third but despite the prime position, nothing came from it.

The Hampden Roar may not be what it once was when 149-odd thousand used to cram inside the old ground, however, it fairly lifted as Jack Hendry’s header hopped beyond Bazunu and into the back of the net in the 50th minute.

All the work was done by Christie down the left flank as he, all-too-easily, skipped past Doherty before clipping a delightful ball into the box where the Cremonese defender made pure contact to level the match.

Ireland looked to bounce back straight away and enjoyed a great chance on the counterattack as Molumby intercepted in midfield before sending Doherty clear. The racing wing-back, looking to make amends, cut inside and with a good look at goal, whipped his shot high and wide.

But the Scots were buoyed by the goal and maintained the pressure on the Ireland goal as first McGinn shot from distance before O’Shea, then Collins had to block real danger inside their own box.

Then in the 56th minute, another counter led to a great chance for Parrott following a lung-bursting charge out of his own half by Obafemi who unselfishly clipped the ball into the path of his striking partner. But the attempt to slip the ball past Gordon was tame and easily dealt with.

End-to-end action, momentarily broken up by a string of substitutes, and had Chiedozie Ogbene been on a bit longer, he may have capitalised when the keeper’s poor clearance hopped right off the striker’s foot but then out of danger.

Chances at both ends as Molumby and Knight looked to work the Scottish keeper, before Bazunu had to save from a well-hit Ryan Fraser effort, while Doherty had to be on hand to work the ball away from goal from the resulting corner.

More substitutes as Seamus Coleman got in on the action straight away, starting and then almost finishing a great move, which led to a stinging delivery from the left that needed a crucial header clear from inside the six-yard box.

But the Scots were again on the offensive and Egan had to throw his body in the way of a stinging Callum McGregor goalbound effort, resulting in a corner that would turn prove decisive.

The set-piece arrived into the box and as McTominay got a clear header on the ball, substitute Browne made clear contact with his hand; the referee immediately pointing to the spot. VAR would be summoned as the Ireland players appealed, but the spot-kick was confirmed.

Christie sends Bazunu the wrong way to hand the hosts the lead with just eight minutes remaining.

Ireland went in search of a late equaliser but were lacking with their final ball inside the Scottish penalty area, and the home side almost wrapped it up as Fraser raced clear but curled his effort wide.

Four minutes of added time for Ireland to save a point and while the play moved into the Scotland final third, the home side saw out the additional time with the minimum of fuss to take all three points.

They head to Ukraine on Tuesday looking to secure the group, and a guaranteed Euro 2024 play-off spot, as Ireland face off for the wooden spoon with Armenia at the Aviva.

Scotland: Craig Gordon; Aaron Hickey (Anthony Ralston 58), Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Kieran Tierney (Greg Taylor 42); Scott McTominay, Callum McGregor, John McGinn (capt), Ryan Christie (Kenny McLean 85), Stuart Armstrong (Ryan Fraser 58); Lyndon Dykes (Che Adams 85)

Republic of Ireland: Gavin Bazunu; John Egan, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea; Matt Doherty, James McClean (Robbie Brady 83), Josh Cullen, Jayson Molumby (Alan Browne 76), Jason Knight; Troy Parrott (Callum Robinson 76), Michael Obafemi (Chiedozie Ogbene 60)

Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI)