Substitute Lawrence Shankland scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw for Scotland in opposition to Georgia of their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier in Tbilisi.
Scotland booked their place at subsequent summer season’s match final month and the draw retains their slim hopes alive of topping Group A forward of Spain.
Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia slid house a Fifteenth-minute opener however Scott McTominay continued his excellent goalscoring type for Scotland to bag his seventh of the qualifying marketing campaign and produce the guests stage within the forty ninth minute.
Kvaratskhelia, although, shortly restored Georgia’s lead eight minutes later when he drilled into the far nook.
However Shankland’s 93rd-minute header ended a three-game dropping run for Scotland, in Steve Clarke’s fiftieth sport in cost, and gave them their first ever qualifying level in Georgia after dropping their earlier two matches there.
It means Scotland can end prime of Group A in the event that they beat Norway at Hampden Park on Sunday and hope Spain lose at house to Georgia.
How Scotland ended Tbilisi hoodoo
After qualifying for Germany with two video games to spare, Scotland’s journey to Georgia gave them an opportunity of erasing pricey European Championship qualifying defeats in 2007 and 2015
However the Tartan Military’s nightmare document on the Boris Paichadze Stadium seemed to be worsening when Kvaratskhelia swept contained in the close to submit previous goalkeeper Zander Clark on his aggressive debut.
The Hearts shotstopper then denied Levan Shengelia 10 minutes later with a superb save as Scotland struggled to create any first-half alternatives.
Lyndon Dykes had their finest likelihood as he glanced a header simply extensive of the far submit from Billy Gilmour’s free-kick.
An underwhelming first-half show noticed Clarke make a half-time double substitute as Lewis Ferguson and Kenny McLean got here on for Gilmour and Ryan Christie.
McLean was shortly concerned to help an equaliser simply 4 minutes into the second half because the Norwich midfielder arrange McTominay, whose deflected strike wrongfooted the Georgian goalkeeper at his close to submit.
The Manchester United midfielder’s seventh aim of Euro 2024 qualifying matched the tallies of Steven Fletcher (seven for Euro 2016) and John McGinn (seven for Euro 2020) for objectives in a single qualifying marketing campaign for Scotland.
However Scotland had been behind once more within the 57th minute as Kvaratskhelia, who was linked closely with a Premier League transfer final summer season, confirmed his high quality as he reduce inside Nathan Patterson and fired fantastically into the far nook.
Clarke’s facet, although, had been to not undergo a 3rd consecutive defeat in Tbilisi as Hearts striker Shankland headed into the highest nook from Stuart Armstrong’s cross within the 93rd minute.
Momentum now key for Scotland as winless run extends
Evaluation by Sky Sports activities’ Alison Conroy:
“It was far from terrific in Tbilisi, but Lawrence Shankland came off the bench to rescue a point to end Scotland’s hoodoo in Georgia and halt their run of defeats.
“The Hearts striker was solely drafted in as a late substitute for Che Adams, however his aim will give Steve Clarke loads to consider when he’s deciding on his squad for Germany subsequent summer season.
“Scott McTominay has played a blinder during a successful qualifying campaign and the Manchester United midfielder once again proved why he should be one of the first names on the team sheet. Seven goals in seven qualifiers, including that double against Spain, is more than impressive, especially when he has struggled for game time with his club.
“After a superb begin to the marketing campaign, lodges and flights to Germany have already been booked – however the squad has struggled to maintain their high quality with their winless run prolonged to 4 video games; albeit that run contains defeats to England and France in friendlies and away to Spain in qualifying.
“Momentum is now key for Scotland as they look to hold on to that feelgood factor heading into next year. They welcome Norway to Hampden Park on Sunday for their final qualifier looking for another victory after they stunned Erling Haaland and Co in Oslo back in June.”
Mulgrew: Shankland is Scotland’s finest striker
Ex-Scotland defender Charlie Mulgrew talking on Sky Sports activities Information:
“Whenever I was in a squad with Lawrence he really surprised me how good a player he was at that time.
“He was taking part in with Dundee United within the Championship and he is managed to work his means into the squad. He is been across the fringes for a couple of years now however for some cause he hasn’t been picked as a lot because the likes of Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams.
“When he comes on the pitch you know he’s going to get chances and he’s probably going to score them if he does.”
What’s subsequent?
Scotland’s remaining Euro 2024 Qualifier is in opposition to Norway at Hampden Park on Sunday – kick-off 7.45pm.
Georgia wrap up their Euro 2024 Qualifying marketing campaign away to Spain on Sunday – kick-off 7.45pm.