Scotland quit a two-goal lead in Austria

Scotland gave up a two-goal lead to attract 2-2 with Austria in a enjoyable pleasant match at Ernst Happel Stadium.

Visiting goalkeeper Craig Gordon stored the hosts in hassle earlier than Jack Hendry headed dwelling from Steve Clarke within the twenty eighth minute after a nook kick from John McGinn who missed two early probabilities.

The Aston Villa midfielder didn’t miss one other likelihood after 56 minutes, however Michael Gregoric slipped previous the objective after 20 minutes and – with eight minutes remaining – because the nervous Scots broke aside, fellow substitute Alessandro Schopf equalized, leaving the guests hanging. tie.

After a 1-1 draw with Poland at Hampden Park final Thursday, Scotland have racked up six wins and two attracts from their final eight matches, and will begin wanting into the World Cup semi-final towards Ukraine, scheduled for June, with Wales awaiting the winners of the ultimate, though Clark is aware of that enchancment is required.

There was little urge for food for the match in Austria after the hosts’ probabilities of making the 2023 World Cup in Qatar had been ended by Wales within the play-off semi-finals final week. Then Austria coach Franco Voda introduced that he would again down after the match.

As promised, Clark used his staff with captain Andy Robertson, who missed the Poland match resulting from Covid-19 points, and returned to the beginning lineup together with central defender Hendry and midfielders Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Jack and Louis Ferguson, and the latter. In its first starting.

Taking part in below Clark at Kilmarnock, Austria goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann had some early work to do. McGinn made two efforts, first testing Bachmann’s lead within the third minute after which passing a shot previous the far submit from 12 yards. Nonetheless, Gordon made three spectacular saves to maintain Scotland’s objective intact.

Veteran Hearts No. 1 saved Sasa Kalajdic’s header from shut vary from a nook kick after which used his foot to dam a shot from the striker earlier than blocking a robust shot from Marko Arnautovic. Amid all of it, Scottish striker Che Adams put the ball into the online, however the offside flag was lengthy.

Scotland took the lead although, from the primary nook, handing McGinn’s swaying to the far submit. Visiting defender Grant Hanley headed into the crossbar however the ball fell to Hendry, and he nodded gratefully over the road from an outdoor yard.

However the hosts continued to threaten, and Scotland defender Kieran Tierney eliminated the menace after Gordon allowed a move to Arnautovic by way of his legs.

Scotland confirmed no indicators of tightening within the second half and the dominant hosts threatened on a number of events.

Nonetheless, the Scots offered an important second when Robertson and Tierney mixed on the left, and when the Arsenal defender’s protection got here uneven to McGinn, he fired the ball excessive the primary time previous Bachmann. Then got here the anticipated set of options to disrupt the sport.

Austria continued to advance and solely bought their rewards when Gregorich got here off the bench and climbed over Hanley and Tierney to hit an excellent cross from Andreas Ulmer.

Scotland had been pushed again into their penalty space and there was no actual shock when the hosts leveled, with Schopf beating Gordon with a low shot from 18 yards.

Then the Scotland goalkeeper needed to save one other Austria substitute Andreas Wyman moments later, and the Scots had been delighted to listen to the ultimate whistle from a robust place.

Clark: Scotland ‘in a great place’

Scotland coach Steve Clark: “It is a robust place to come back to. If I stated earlier than the sport we had been going to attain two targets and a draw, lots of people would have stated that will be tremendous. Remember, at 2-0 I instantly made three substitutions, so that you lose somewhat little bit of rhythm, that little little bit of Continuity within the recreation.

“The thought tonight was to get extra individuals into the sector. You are allowed six subs, and I wished to offer some gamers minutes on the sector. I do not perceive why it is nonetheless so pleased. It is eight video games unbeaten, and we bought right into a aggressive program in June and we’re in fine condition, Don’t fret about it.There may be all the time one thing you could find in efficiency to enhance.

“Having the ball may have been higher within the match, some first rate moments within the first half particularly, one other good objective from the play group and an important second objective. From 2-0 it is all the time somewhat disappointing when you do not” The match is over With a win however we will have a tough time with it, Austria had been aggressive, they usually wished to say goodbye to their supervisor.

“So we are going to win a draw and go away unbeaten and stay up for the aggressive matches in June on the again of eight unbeaten matches which isn’t a foul place. I want we had performed Ukraine in June, it means the state of affairs within the nation may have improved dramatically and that will be nice for everybody.” .

Scotland Extends Unbeaten Vary – Opta . Stats

• Scotland have been undefeated of their final six away matches towards Austria in all competitions (W3 D3) – towards another staff from outdoors the British Isles who’ve by no means been undefeated (additionally six instances towards Norway between 1974 and 2005).
• It was the primary time Scotland had did not win a recreation wherein they’d led by no less than two targets since August 2005 – which was additionally a 2-2 draw away to Austria in a pleasant match.
• John McGinn scored twice as many targets for Scotland below Steve Clark than another participant (12). This was his twelfth objective in all competitions with the nationwide staff, however it was solely his second away objective.

What then?

Scotland have set their sights on their postponed World Cup semi-final match towards Ukraine, scheduled for June, with a possible remaining win towards Wales for a spot in Qatar 2023.