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Scotland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Russia national football team

1-2

McGinn (11')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dzyuba (40'), O'Donnell (59' og.)

Russia come from behind to deal hammer blow to Scotland's Euro hopes

Steve Clarke's side are now six points off second place in Group I.

Scotland failed to build on John McGinn's early opener as a 2-1 home defeat by Russia left their hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2020 hanging by a thread.

McGinn netted his first goal for Scotland after a goalkeeping blunder in the 10th minute as Steve Clarke's men were rewarded for a positive start.

But the visitors quickly got on top and the pressure paid off when Artem Dzyuba capitalised on a break of the ball to equalise five minutes before the break.

The hosts made a poor start to the second half and Russia penalised some slack play to net in the 59th minute as Yuri Zhirkov got ahead of Stephen O'Donnell, who looked to get the final touch.

Scotland could not rediscover their fleeting early verve and the defeat leaves them six points off their second-placed opponents in Group I ahead of Monday's visit of Belgium and a trip to Moscow next month.

Clarke handed a debut to Leeds captain Liam Cooper after losing four centre-backs to injury. Oli McBurnie was handed a start up front after reassuring his manager and team-mates over his commitment after private and apparently jokey comments suggesting otherwise were caught on camera.

Scotland signalled their intent as Cooper launched a diagonal ball from kick-off and McGinn got a shot away after 20 seconds.

Scotland's John McGinn celebrates opening the scoring
Scotland's John McGinn celebrates opening the scoring (Ian Rutherford/PA).

Zhirkov hooked a shot on to the roof of the net at the other end, but Scotland continued to press. O'Donnell flicked the ball off a post from a difficult angle following the hosts' third corner and they were soon ahead after a Scotland throw-in on the left wing.

Brazilian-born goalkeeper Guilherme dropped Ryan Fraser's cross as it bounced into his arms and McGinn was on hand to knock home from six yards.

Russia tried to hit back immediately and David Marshall's fingertips stopped Dzubya's header looping into the net after the huge striker got above Charlie Mulgrew.

Marshall made a more straightforward save from Zhirkov's header as Russia pushed forward.

Artem Dzyuba swept home Russia's equaliser before the break
Artem Dzyuba swept home Russia's equaliser before the break (Ian Rutherford/PA).

Mulgrew had a header saved from Fraser's free-kick but the pressure grew at the other end.

Russia started another slick move down the right after a clearance came right back into the Scotland half and Dzyuba swept home from 14 yards after Andy Robertson's penalty-box challenge broke kindly for the Zenit St Petersburg man.

The World Cup quarter-finalists made the better start to the second half and playmaker Aleksandr Golovin fired just over with Scotland retreating.

Scotland were soon punished for losing possession again after Fraser could not control Callum McGregor's less-than-perfect pass.

Scotland were left to reflect on a damaging home defeat
Scotland were left to reflect on a damaging home defeat (Ian Rutherford/PA).

Dzyuba slipped the ball in behind Cooper and Golovin played a square pass which O'Donnell, under pressure from Zhirkov, could only turn into his own net.

Marshall kept Scotland in it with a brilliant save from a Mario Fernandes header and another impressive stop from Zhirkov. A post also came to Scotland's rescue after Magomed Ozdoev saw his shot deflected off Scott McTominay after the Manchester United midfielder had conceded possession deep in his half.

Substitute Ryan Christie injected some creativity, having a shot saved before setting up an attack which led to a free-kick 25 yards out. However, the normally accurate Mulgrew missed the target.

Clarke threw Matt Phillips on up front and his team began to force chances but McGregor twice had shots blocked inside the box.

However, Mulgrew had to clear off the line from Aleksandr Erokhin after Scotland gifted the Russians another chance and the home side could not make the most of some late set-pieces.

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Steve Clarke pictured in charge of Scotland on June 8, 2019
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Cyprus Cyprus00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Norway Norway00000
Q Scotland flag Scotland00000
Q Spain Spain00000

Group B

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Q France France00000
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar00000
3 Greece Greece00000
Q Netherlands Netherlands00000
5 Ireland Rep. Ireland00000

Group C

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Q England flag England00000
Q Italy Italy00000
3 Malta flag Malta00000
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia00000
5 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group D

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1 Armenia Armenia00000
Q Croatia Croatia00000
3 Latvia Latvia00000
Q Turkey Turkey00000
5 Wales flag Wales00000

Group E

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Q Albania national flag Albania00000
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands00000
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova00000
5 Poland Poland00000

Group F

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Q Austria Austria00000
2 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan00000
Q Belgium Belgium00000
4 Estonia Estonia00000
5 Sweden Sweden00000

Group G

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1 Bulgaria Bulgaria00000
Q Hungary Hungary00000
3 Lithuania Lithuania00000
4 Montenegro Montenegro00000
Q Serbia Serbia00000

Group H

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Q Denmark Denmark00000
2 Finland Finland00000
3 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan00000
4 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland00000
5 San Marino flag San Marino00000
Q Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Andorra flag Andorra00000
2 Belarus Belarus00000
3 Israel Israel00000
4 Kosovo flag Kosovo00000
Q Romania Romania00000
Q Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina00000
2 Iceland Iceland00000
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein00000
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg00000
Q Portugal Portugal00000
Q Slovakia Slovakia00000


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