Post by : Rameen Ariff

Scotland stunned Greece with a remarkable 3-1 home win in their Group C World Cup qualifier on Thursday, moving a step closer to their first World Cup appearance since 1998. The victory also saw manager Steve Clarke equal the national record for most games in charge of the Scotland team.

After trailing 1-0 due to a goal from Greece’s Kostas Tsimikas just past the hour mark, Scotland responded with three quick goals. Ryan Christie scored the equaliser following a VAR review, Lewis Ferguson netted his first international goal in the 80th minute, and Lyndon Dykes sealed the win in stoppage time after a goalkeeping error by Konstantinos Tzolakis.

The first half was uneventful for Scotland, who failed to register a shot on target, while Greece dominated possession and missed key chances. Vangelos Pavlidis was unmarked early but could not convert, and Georgios Masouras also failed to score in the 54th minute.

The Tartan Army erupted with celebration in the second half as Scotland completed a thrilling comeback at Hampden Park. BBC Scotland commentator described the match as “one of the most spectacular acts of pickpocketry you could see,” reflecting the dramatic turnaround.

Manager Steve Clarke, who is now unbeaten in 71 games, praised his team’s resilience:

“Football is a 90-minute game, and you have to make sure you come out of it with a positive result. 3-1 may flatters us, but we did enough to win the game.”

Scotland are currently level on seven points in Group C but trail group leaders Denmark on goal difference after three games. Greece, the 2004 European champions, remain on three points and face a crucial away match against Denmark on Sunday, with their World Cup hopes hanging in the balance.

Scotland now have a strong chance to secure at least a playoff spot for next year’s World Cup when they host Belarus in their next fixture. Clarke will surpass Craig Brown’s record for the most games in charge if the team maintains their unbeaten run.

#Sports News