Greece vs Scotland LIVE: Result and reaction from Nations League relegation play-off first leg
Greece 0-1 Scotland: The visitors survived long spells of pressure to take a lead back to Hampden
Scotland survived an onslaught from Greece in Athens as Scott McTominay’s first-half penalty proved enough to take a one-goal lead back to Hampden in their Nations League relegation play-off.
A contentious penalty call went Scotland’s way and McTomimay picked himself up after colliding into Lazaros Rota in the box to calmly dispatch the spot-kick. Scotland deserved their lead at the break and could have doubled their lead, with Che Adams twice going close.
Greece dominated after the restart and the introduction of 17-year-old winger Konstantinos Karetsas led to waves of pressure. The teenager set up Christos Tzolis with an excellent cross but the forward hit the post from two yards as Scotland looked to hang on to their lead.
And Scotland survived another scare as Greece were awarded a late penalty, only for VAR to come to the rescue and overturn the decision as Grant Hanley was outside the box when he fouled.
Only England, Spain and Netherlands had won in Greece in the last two years, but Scotland join the list and take the advantage back to Glasgow as they look to maintain their top-tier status in the Nations League in the second leg on Sunday.
Follow reaction from the Nations League play-off between Scotland and Greece, below
Greece 0-1 Scotland
50 mins: Wicked ball in from Tsimikas and McTominay rises well at the front post. McGinn heads away at the back host.
Tsimikas delivers another stunning ball in... and this time they do make contact. The header from Mavropanos loops towards the back post and goes behind. Greece try to play on and end up putting it in, but it had gone out of play.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
48 mins: Excellent covering from Ralston after Gilmour loses a pass looking for McLean, sweeping up on the edge of the box.
Greece are raising it and Karetsas goes for a scissor kick that is whacked away by Hanley. Greece have their first corner.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
47 mins: Karetsas’ first involvement is to overhit a cross out of play. Ralston was left in a heap on the touchline after Tsimikas leaned into him.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
46 mins: Back underway in Athens. The hosts have made one change, with 17-year-old Karetsas replacing Masouras.
Karetsas is making his debut and is very fresh-faced indeed.
HALF TIME! Greece 0-1 Scotland
The return leg is on Sunday at 5pm. Can Scotland take a lead back to Hampden for the second leg?
HALF TIME! Greece 0-1 Scotland
These are the half-time scores in the Nations League quarter-finals. From a Scotland point of view, they will play the loser of Denmark v Portugal in World Cup qualifying. That’s currently goalless.
- Croatia 2-0 France
- Denmark 0-0 Portugal
- Italy 1-0 Germany
- Netherlands 1-1 Spain
HALF TIME! Greece 0-1 Scotland
Scotland lead thanks to McTominay’s penalty. It was a very soft one, but the visitors take the gift. There is an argument McTominay commits the foul rather the other way around.
Craig Gordon has yet to have a save to make and the midfield of Gilmour and McLean, with McGinn, Ferguson and McTominay supporting Adams, has worked nicely.
HALF TIME! Greece 0-1 Scotland
Tsimikas can’t trouble Gordon with the free-kick, curling over and rippling the top of the net.
And that’s it! Scotland lead at the break and they’ve been very good indeed.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
45+2 mins: We’re into two minutes of added time and Ferguson concedes a foul on the edge of the box. He is booked but immediately appeals - he’s right to be aggrieved as Rota made the most of very little contract.
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