Greece 3 – 2 Scotland
Bakasetas Karetsas Tzolis
Scotland endured their first Group C defeat after a thrilling 5 goal defeat against Greece in Piraeus.
Greece took an early lead through Tasos Bakasetas. A long ball was misjudged by John Souttar, allowing Vangelis Pavlidis to test Craig Gordon with a low shot. The rebound dropped for Bakasetas, who drilled a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
The home side had enjoyed the opening exchanges, but it was a soft goal, and a nightmare start for Steve Clarke’s men.
The second almost arrived in the 18th minute. Christos Tzolis terrorised Rangers for Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff round. He tested Gordon twice in a matter of seconds, firstly with a snapshot in the box, and then a sliced strike that whistled past the post.
The visitors had no answers; the midfield combination of Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie was continuously smothered by the inspired Greeks, who looked full of confidence.
Gordon swatted away Panagiotis Retsos’ towering header after 26 minutes. Before an Andy Robertson error allowed Tzolis to register another shot on target, as the hosts looked to turn the screw.
They delivered another flowing move on the half-hour mark. Tzolis found space on the left before firing a low pass across the six-yard box. Pavlidis connected on the stretch, but his strike shaved the side netting and went behind Gordon’s goal.
Greece were cutting the Scots open at will, and could have scored four in the opening thirty minutes on another night.
Scotland sparked into life on the halftime mark. Che Adams dummied Robertson’s inside pass, leaving space for Scott McTominay to cannon a 25-yard strike off the crossbar.
Ben Doak raced onto a clever McTominay pass in additional time, but Odysseas Vlachodimos smothered his low strike to bring the half to a close.
Scotland carried their positive finish into the second half, showing more composure on the ball and picking up good attacking areas.
They should have equalised in the 52nd minute. Ryan Christie latched onto a loose Greek pass and squared to the unmarked Adams, but the striker’s shot was blocked on the line.
Greece delivered a killer blow four minutes later. Andrews Tetteh beat Grant Hanley for pace down Scotland’s right, and he found Konstantinos Karetsas, who struck home from the edge of the box.
The wonderkid terrorised the Scots during the Nations League playoff in March, and his suckerpunch may have confirmed another playoff. A powerful shot from range by Tzolis made it 3-0 after the hour mark as the Greeks started to enjoy themselves.
Doak pulled a goal back in the 65th minute. He finished John McGinn’s powerful low cross after a strong run from the Aston Villa captain.
The goal offered hope for the Tartan Army, and when Christie headed Robertson’s pinpoint cross in the 70th minute, the automatic World Cup qualification dream was well and truly back on.
Scotland looked set to equalise in the 80th minute. Doak’s backpost cross was volleyed towards goal by McTominay, but the outstretched leg of Vlachodimos kept the Greek lead intact.
A crucial touch by Vlachodimos diverted a McGinn cross as the game entered injury time. Clarke had four strikers on the pitch, but they were unable to find the equalising goal.
Scotland carried their positive finish into the second half, showing more composure on the ball and picking up good attacking areas.
They should have equalised in the 52nd minute. Ryan Christie latched onto a loose Greek pass and squared to the unmarked Adams, but the striker’s shot was blocked on the line.
Greece delivered a killer blow four minutes later. Andrews Tetteh beat Grant Hanley for pace down Scotland’s right, and he found Konstantinos Karetsas, who struck home from the edge of the box.
The wonderkid terrorised the Scots during the Nations League playoff in March, and his suckerpunch may have confirmed another playoff. A powerful shot from range by Tzolis made it 3-0 after the hour mark as the Greeks started to enjoy themselves.
Doak pulled a goal back in the 65th minute. He finished John McGinn’s powerful low cross after a strong run from the Aston Villa captain.
The goal offered hope for the Tartan Army, and when Christie headed Robertson’s pinpoint cross in the 70th minute, the automatic World Cup qualification dream was well and truly back on.
Scotland looked set to equalise in the 80th minute. Doak’s backpost cross was volleyed towards goal by McTominay, but the outstretched leg of Vlachodimos kept the Greek lead intact.
A crucial touch by Vlachodimos diverted a McGinn cross as the game entered injury time. Clarke had four strikers on the pitch, but they were unable to find the equalising goal. But a point for Belarus means that Scotland can still automatically qualify for the World Cup.
Greece: Vlachodimos 8 Vagiannidis 7 Retsos 7 Koulierakis 6 Tsimikas 6 Kourbelis 6 Mouzakitis 7 Karetsas 8 Bakasetas 6 Tzolis 8 Pavlidis 6
Substitutes: Tetteh 6 Masouras 6 Kostoulas 6 Hatzidiakos 6
Scotland: Gordon 6 Hickey 6 Hanley 6 Souttar 6 Robertson 6 Ferguson 7 Christie 7 McGinn 7 McTominay 7 Gannon-Doak 7 Adams 6
Substitutes: McKenna 6 Ralston 6 Shankland 6 Hirst 6 Dykes 6
