Scotland suffered late heartbreak by the hands of Poland within the UEFA Nations League, shedding 3-2 due to a penalty in stoppage time.
It was a tricky evening throughout for Scotland, who discovered themselves 1-0 down after eight minutes.
Sebastian Szymanski fired in from long-range after Billy Gilmour misplaced possession, with the midfielder smashing his effort in off the publish, leaving Angus Gunn with no probability.
It was an uphill battle from there, however Scotland battled on into the primary half, creating first rate possibilities and initially grabbing an equaliser 22 minutes in.
Andy Robertson’s cross was met by Scott McTominay, who bundled the ball over the road and wheeled off to have a good time in entrance of the Hampden Park crowd.
However the strike was dominated out for handball by the Scotsman, albeit the Napoli man didn’t appear like he meant to make use of his arm to attain.
24′ | Andy Robertson crosses into the field from a free-kick, the place Scott McTominay meets the ball and places it into the online.
Nevertheless, the objective is then disallowed for hand ball.
🏴 0 – 1 🇵🇱
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) September 5, 2024
Lyndon Dykes had an enormous probability once more late within the first half, choosing a half-volley reasonably than a header on the again publish and lacking the goal, marking an actual let-off for Poland within the course of.
And fewer than a minute later, Poland had a penalty.
Tony Ralston fairly clearly hacked Nicola Zalewski down within the field, prompting the referee to level to the spot, which Robert Lewandowski inevitably transformed.
So Scotland had all of it to do within the second half, they usually almost accomplished a miraculous comeback.
Only a minute after the restart, Gilmour had the ball within the internet, making up for his earlier mistake.
The midfielder smashed it by means of a bundle of our bodies after Dykes had performed nicely to maneuver the ball into the field, giving the Tartan Military one thing to cheer about finally.
And with the followers now behind the gamers once more, they kicked on with full pressure.
Szymanski got here near a second for Poland, sending an exquisite curled strike simply huge of the body.
That probability appeared to open the sport up, with either side now having possibilities in what was turning into an end-to-end
GOAL SCOTLAND! WHAT A START TO THE HALF!
Billy Gilmour luggage his second objective for Scotland! #SCOPOL pic.twitter.com/1vF0cWmhsx
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) September 5, 2024
affair.
However after a trio of modifications for Scotland, they discovered their equaliser.
McTominay lastly had his objective, the tenth of his profession with quarter-hour left on the clock.
Anthony Ralston did nicely to seek out the previous Manchester United man who had no drawback slotting residence from close-range, drawing Steve Clarke’s facet stage.
However whereas there was hope inside Hampden Park, the unthinkable occurred in stoppage time.
Zalewski was fouled by Grant Hanley within the field, incomes Poland their second penalty of the evening with simply two minutes to go.
He stepped up and cooly beat Gunn to ship the travelling help mad within the small part of the stadium they’d.
GOAL Poland. Zalewski scores.
Scotland 2-3 Poland. #SCOPOL
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) September 5, 2024
The loss means Scotland have now gained simply certainly one of their final 13 video games, with strain now actually mounting on Clarke.
If the Tartan Military wish to make it to the World Cup in 2026, one thing wants to vary, and rapidly.
