Croatia v Scotland LIVE: Nations League result and final score as Scots suffer more late heartbreak
Croatia 2-1 Scotland: After late defeats to Poland and Portugal, Che Adams saw a 95th minute equaliser ruled out by VAR
Scotland’s winless run in competitive games grew to nine games as Steve Clarke’s side fell to defeat to Croatia in Zagreb after Che Adams saw a last-minute equaliser ruled out by VAR.
The visitors thought they had secured their first Nations League point of the campaign after Adams helped scramble in an equaliser in the 95th minute, but the substitute was offside by a fraction.
After late defeats to Poland and Portugal, it means Andrej Kramaric’s winner leaves Scotland without a point in the Nations League ahead of the visit of Portugal on Tuesday.
Without up to 12 players due to injury, Scotland struck first as Ryan Christie capitalised on a mistake in the Croatia defence to fire his first competitive goal in two years.
But Scotland were pegged back almost immediately when Igor Matanovic fired a first-time finish past goalkeeper Craig Gordon, recalled by Clarke at the age of 41.
Croatia then took the lead in an open game, as an unmarked Kramaric headed into the net after a save from Gordon.
Christie spurned a golden chance to equalise for Scotland on the breakaway and Adams went narrowly wide with a flick in stoppage time before the substitute saw his last-gasp effort ruled out.
Croatia 2-1 Scotland
72 mins
Croatia make two changes as Kramaric and Matanović make way for Ante Budimir and Bruno Petković.
GOAL! Croatia 2-1 Scotland
70 mins
GOAL! Just as I type that they’re lacking threat.
Perisic works some space on the wing and floats in a lovely cross to the far post, that Sosa hits first-time. It forces a great save from Gordon but the ball bounces back to an unmarked Kramaric, who nods it past the defenders on the line for 2-1.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
68 mins
Croatia are enjoying some sustained possession at the moment, though once again they’re lacking threat.
Kramaric fires in a cross but Hanley heads away easily.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
66 mins
Modric skips past McTominay too easily and shapes up to try and find the far corner, but his shot flies wide of the post.
Moments later, the Real Madrid man tracks back to latch on to the loose ball and starts a counter, which ends with Baturina firing over from distance.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
64 mins
Doak and McTominay almost combine in the box but once again the final bit of quality is just lacking.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
62 mins
Half a chance for Scotland as the ball into the box falls to Dykes, who tries to lay it off to McTominay, but Croatia scramble clear.
Luka Sucic is replaced by Martin Baturina in midfield.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
60 mins
Brave from Gordon as he punches the cross clear, and Matanovic has to receive some treatment.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
58 mins
Nicely worked from Scotland as the diagonal pass comes to Robertson, who lays off a lovely cross with the outside of his boot that Souttar can’t get a clean connection with.
Croatia 1-1 Scotland
55 mins
Disallowed goal!
Wow. Relief for Scotland but not for the neutral.
Modric lays off the ball for the shot from distance and it’s blocked by a Scotland shirt. They try and break and the whistle goes just before Luka Sucic rifles into the net from about 25 yards!
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