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Poland v Scotland LIVE: Nations League result as Andy Robertson dramatically rescues Scots from relegation

Poland 1-2 Scotland: The captain’s last-minute header saved the Scots from automatic relegation, with a play-off to come to stay in League A

Chris Wilson
Monday 18 November 2024 22:50 GMT
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Steve Clarke may change a winning side for Scotland’s big date against Poland

Andy Robertson’s last-minute goal saved Scotland from automatic Nations League relegation as the captain’s dramatic header earned Steve Clarke’s side a famous 2-1 win against Poland in Warsaw.

Scotland had to win to avoid finishing bottom of League A1, but turned their run of late misfortunate on its head when Robertson arrived at the back post to thump a powerful header into the net.

Having lost their first three matches of the campaign and drawing 0-0 with Portugal, Scotland ended their winless run with a late win over Croatia on Friday before earning back-to-back wins with victory against Poland.

Scotland made the perfect start when John McGinn converted a chance inside just three minutes but Poland’s Kamil Piątkowski arrowed a stunning strike into the top to equalise on 60 minutes.

At one stage, with Portugal beating Croatia in Zagreb, another goal would have lifted Scotland to second place - enough to progress to the quarter-finals and claim a seeded place in World Cup qualifying.

But it finished as a draw in Zagreb, which means Scotland will play a relegation play-off against one of the runners-up from League B in March in a bid to retain their top-tier status.

Poland 0-1 Scotland

32 mins

CHANCE! Scotland’s chance to work an opportunity and once again it’s Doak at the centre of things, collecting the ball in the box before laying it off to Dykes. He has plenty to do but manages to beat a man to work the space to shoot, but he flashes it wide.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:20

Poland 0-1 Scotland

31 mins

Scotland concede another free-kick in a fairly dangerous area, but this time it’s Dykes with a good defensive header.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:19

Poland 0-1 Scotland

29 mins

Scotland really haven’t been comfortable when on the ball on the whole, with the exception of Doak and McTominay. They simply give it away within about seven passes once they do win it back. All okay for the moment though for the away side.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:17

Poland 0-1 Scotland

27 mins

Scotland have dealt with the Poland pressure fairly well so far, but there have been two occasions in which the home side were clean through too easily.

There’s been some great defending too though, with Robertson doing plenty down the left.

It falls to Szymanski near the edge of the area, and he tries to curl and effort into the far corner, but it flies over and wide.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:15

Poland 0-1 Scotland

24 mins

CLOSE! A great save from Gordon.

It’s too simple from Poland though, as a long ball forward finds its intended target in Świderski. He jumps to take it down well and he should do better with the finish, but Gordon has rushed off his line well and made himself big enough to make the stop.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:11

Poland 0-1 Scotland

23 mins

Scotland have a rare foray forward led once again by Doak, and he works enough space to get the shot away, but it’s tame and right at Skorupski.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:10

Poland 0-1 Scotland

21 mins

Scotland are having to deal with quite a bit of Poland pressure at the moment, though luckily for them it just isn’t clicking for the home side. Zielinksi does well to beat his man and get the cutback from the byline, but Szymanski can’t get a clean connection and he fires it against a Scotland shirt.

(REUTERS)
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:08

Poland 0-1 Scotland

19 mins

Immediately after the chance, Scotland concede a free-kick to the right of their box, but they’re let off the hook once more as it’s rifled against the wall.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:06

Poland 0-1 Scotland

18 mins

CLOSE! A huge let-off for Scotland.

It’s a ridiculous decision from Robertson to play a diagonal across his own penalty area, and it’s cut out by Poland. It runs into the path of Świderski, and he’s one-v-one with Gordon, but he blasts against the side-netting.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:05

Poland 0-1 Scotland

16 mins

Robertson’s delivery is collected by the ‘keeper and Poland look to break, eventually winning a throw-in in line with the box, but they waste the chance by straying offside. That sums up the overall quality on show from the home side so far.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 20:03

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