SERRAVALLE, SAN MARINO (REUTERS) - Scotland beat San Marino 2-0 to avoid a second humiliation of the week and get their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign up and running on Sunday (March 24) although it was hardly a performance to excite their fans.
Kenny McLean's glancing header put the Scots ahead after four minutes against the tiny republic in northern Italy but it was not until the 74th minute that Johnny Russell made the points safe with a powerful finish.
Scotland were lambasted for losing 3-0 to 117th-ranked Kazakhstan in their opening Group I fixture on Thursday (March 21).
San Marino, 211th and bottom of FIFA's rankings, have never won a competitive match and never looked like doing so against a Scotland side reeling from their abject display in Kazakhstan.
They did make things awkward though after falling behind early - so much so that there were groans of frustration from the Tartan Army inside the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
Manager Alex McLeish was even booed at halftime.
"We spoke about bringing our quality to the game so it was a surprise to see passes going astray," McLeish said. "I think the result in Kazakhstan affected a few of them.
"Getting the second goal was important because San Marino felt they were still in the game and when they broke it put the frighteners up the fans a wee bit, and they got agitated.
"The fans were looking for five or six and we accept that." The introduction off the bench of James Forrest late on livened up the Scotland performance and it was his ball after a counter-attack that allowed Russell to make the scoreline just about respectable.
"We got off to a good start but it wasn't nice," said Norwich City's McLean, making his first start in a competitive game. "It was frustrating but we got the job done. We should have got more goals but it wasn't to be."
Apr 26, 2019 · Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have raised the standard of the Premier League just as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus did in golf and Usain Bolt did in athletics. City won the title last
Pep Guardiola: Manchester Metropolis have raised Premier
Villans ascend into EPL heaven. Aston Villa's John McGinn celebrates scoring their second goal that proved to be the difference in the Championship play-off final against Derby.
Villans ascend into EPL heaven - theworldnews.net
Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost €19 million ($21.6 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence. The Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from
Ronaldo fined, not jailed for tax fraud - theworldnews.net
Football: Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback, says Jose Mourinho. Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning the UEFA Champions league semi-final football
Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge Ex-football star faces assault trial.
Paul Gascoigne » Internationals - worldfootball.net
Football: Hougang find inspiration in skipper Zulfahmi Arifin
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis a thunderous winner from Shiotani, who plays his club football with Al Ain and unfurled a rippling strike just before the hour-mark
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
Football: Spain court acquits former FC Barcelona president
Jurgen Klopp is the most important figure at Liverpool, says Jamie Carragher, with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson the difference in the Champions League final. Liverpool were 2-0 winners against
Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish press. Madrid president Florentino Perez has
Zidane set for shock Madrid return | The Guardian Nigeria
Home » News » Sports » Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp. Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp. On March 19, 2019 6:11 pm In Sports by Emmanuel Okogba
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp
Jun 01, 2019 · Jose Antonio Reyes, a Spanish soccer star best known for playing for his hometown club Sevilla and a stint with English side Arsenal, died Saturday in a car crash near his childhood home in Utrera
Former Arsenal and Sevilla star Jose Antonio Reyes dies in
MADRID, June 1 (Reuters) - An early goal from Mohamed Salah and a late one from Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's all-English Champions League final as
Football: Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-salah-origi-strike-to-give-liverpool-champions-league-triumph/
06/04/2019 Comments Off on Football: Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph MADRID (REUTERS) - An early Mohamed Salah penalty and a late strike by Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's (June 1) all-English Champions League final as their coach Juergen Klopp finally got his hands
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen