Greece 0 Scotland 1: Steve Clarke’s dogged side halfway there via McTominay penalty as Greeks see spot kick overturned
IN a city of ruins, the Scotland defence refused to crumble.
Steve Clarke’s side held firm in Piraeus, the port area of Athens, in this Nation’s League relegation play-off first-leg.
Scott McTominay’s first-half penalty separates the sides ahead of Sunday’s return clash back at Hampden.
But really it was the guts and determination at the back that won this tie.
Scotland were superb for 45 minutes and took a deserved lead.
But in the second-half it was backs-to-the-wall in the shadows of the Acropolis.
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The Tartan Army saluted their heroes for all their efforts with the belief now they’ll finish the job in Glasgow on Sunday night.
As ever, Clarke’s starting line-up was there to be shot at.
Leaving out Kieran Tierney’s the head-scratcher for some this time.
But was it the biggest surprise that the Arsenal defender was to begin the night on the bench given he’s been missing for Scotland for so long?
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Clarke has shown incredible faith in KT down the years.
Whenever he named a five-man defence it was to shoe-horn both him and Andy Robertson into the same team.
But reverting to a back-four has worked while Tierney has been injured.
So it was entirely understandable that Clarke would decide to stick with a system that’s brought progress, rather than rip everything up for one man.
All that said, it was still a big call.
The same could be said for Clarke’s thinking when it came to Grant Hanley, a player struggling for any meaningful game time at League One Birmingham.
The big centre-back rarely lets anyone down when he pulls on a dark blue shirt.
But Clarke’s loyalty to the defender cannot go on forever if he’s only getting the odd minute here and then in the third tier of English football.
The manager talked about how this was no night for international rookies, though, and Hanley’s experience was arguably worth the risk.
What was undeniably great to see was Lewis Ferguson given his first competitive start in three years.
Having overcome a serious ACL knee injury, the Bologna midfielder deserved his chance and absolutely grabbed it with both hands.
In truth, there was a real confidence and composure right throughout the team from the get-go.
The midfield completely bossed the first-half.
But a 1-0 lead at the break really should have been more with Scotland passing up two or three massive chances to virtually put Greece to bed.
When it came to the penalty scored by McTominay, it was a debatable one alright.
The Napoli star did brilliantly to turn and burst into the box and planted his foot when defender Lazaros Rota stepped across him.
The Verdict
How Scotland stars rated in first leg Nations League playoff win v Greece
Craig Gordon Veteran keeper won his 80th cap and had to be alert in the second half as Greece piled pressure on. Big clean sheet for the Hearts man. 8
Anthony Ralston Celtic full-back should have been rusty after very little club action but put in a superb shift. Did just enough to put off Christos Tzolis as he hit the post. 8
John Souttar Took his solid Rangers form onto the international scene. Forced to defend his box constantly in the second half but stood tall in a no-nonsense display. 8
Grant Hanley Big defender was making his 60th Scotland appearance and breathed a sigh of relief after a late penalty award was overturned by VAR. Strong performance. 8
Andy Robertson Moved third on Scotland’s all-time cap list with No81 and ensured it was a memorable night with a big away win. Calmed things during a frantic second period. 7
Billy Gilmour Little midfielder tried to dictate the play and wasted a chance to make it 2-0 after hesitating. Guilty of some slack passes but willingness to take ball was crucial. 7
Kenny McLean Experienced midfielder gave his usual no-frills performance beside Gilmour in the central area. Put in a big defensive shift before being replaced with 15 remaining. 7
John McGinn Usual bustling display from the Scotland midfielder and was at the heart of many attacks. Powered a drive over the bar on a rare second-half break. 7
Scott McTominay Won and then converted a first-half penalty as he ignored the lasers from the Greek fans. Took some heavy treatment from Greek players but had the last laugh. 7
Lewis Ferguson Back in a Scotland jersey for the first time in a year and played off left flank. Worked tirelessly and didn’t give the Greeks any time on the ball. Booked. 7
Che Adams Tough shift as lone striker but should have scored when he rushed his shot after a Greek mix-up in first half. Fed off scraps in the second period. 7
SUBS: KIERAN TIERNEY (5) operated ahead of Andy Robertson on the left flank for the closing stages. GEORGE HIRST (5) Ipswich star came on to make his debut for the last 15. RYAN PORTEOUS (3) put in a late tackle moments after coming on. MAX JOHNSTON (2) another late debutant.
But it was one of those incidents where it was tough to tell who made the contact.
Put it this way, had it been up the other end, the Tartan Army would have been up in arms and furious with the decision.
But the German referee, Tobias Stieler, saw it as a spot-kick and McTominay picked himself up to make the most of the opportunity.
Even the laser pens shone from the crowd couldn’t put him off.
Whatever anyone thought, Scotland were well worth the lead - but the team’s failure to get more goals before the break was a real frustration.
Billy Gilmour was one-on-one with the goalkeeper - making only his second Greece appearances - but delayed his shot long enough to be challenged.
He claimed for another penalty but it wasn’t one. He had to be shaper in front of goal.
Next Che Adams was presented with an open goal after a rare mistake from 22-year-old keeper Kostas Tzolakis.
But the striker didn’t get enough on his shot and Greece escaped.
There as another drilled effort from the Torino hitman that whizzed past the post in another agonising near miss.
Going into the second-half you wondered if Clarke and his men would live to regret those misses.
For all the team had played brilliantly in the first 45 minutes, the lack of clinical edge in the final third was there to be seen.
A booking for Ferguson also meant he had to be careful.
A change by the home side definitely made them better with 17-year-old substitute Konstantinos Karetsas bringing a new threat to Scotland.
The lively Belgian-born teenager really looked the part as soon as he stepped onto the pitch.
Soon it was backs to the wall for Clarke’s team as they were forced into some last-ditch penalty box defending to protect their lead for a good 15 minute spell.
Greece piled on the presser and an equaliser felt inevitable.
It required Scotland to show different side to their game as they got men behind the ball and defended for their lives.
They need luck too with a huge moment coming in 76 minutes when No9 Christos Tzolis missed an absolute sitter when he rattled the post from inside the six-yard box.
Tony Ralston deserved a hard slap on the back for making his presence felt. But it was still an incredible miss and let-off.
Clarke waited until 75 minutes before bringing on reinforcements with Tierney and George Hirst replacing Adams and Kenny McLean.
But the Greece attacks kept coming.
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The home side were even awarded a penalty in 84 minutes - only for TV replays to show a Hanley foul on Taxiarchis Fountas was crucially OUTSIDE the box.
- Scotland XI: Gordon, Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, McGinn, McTominay, Ferguson, Adams. Subs: Kelly, Slicker, Tierney, Conway, Wilson, Hendry, Porteous, McKenna, Nisbet, Hirst, Miller, Johnston.
- Greece XI: Tzolakis, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Siopis, Mantolas, Masouras, Konstantelias, Tzolis, Ioannidis. Subs: Vlachodimos, Mandas, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Zafeiris, Pelkas, Fountas, Pavlidis, Mouzakitis, Chatzidiakos, Karetsas, Giannoulis.
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