McLean completes late comeback as Scotland stun Norway in qualifier
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enny McLean scored a dramatic 89th-minute winner for Scotland in Norway because the guests turned their Euro 2024 qualifier on its head with two objectives in as many minutes.
Scotland have been trailing to Erling Haaland’s 61st-minute penalty and had barely posed a risk earlier than Lyndon Dykes capitalised on some hesitancy within the Norwegian defence to nudge the ball house after John McGinn’s tried via ball had been intercepted.
The Group A leaders quickly ensured they continued their excellent begin to the marketing campaign when Dykes laid McGinn’s go again to substitute McLean, who curled a low shot simply contained in the far submit.
The guests wore black armbands in reminiscence of Gordon McQueen, who scored his fifth and ultimate worldwide objective in a 4-0 win in the identical stadium in 1979 on the earlier event the groups met in a European Championship qualifier.
And they supplied a becoming tribute to the 30-times capped centre-back with a sensational comeback victory.
Jack Hendry was handed presumably essentially the most tough activity in world soccer in the intervening time when he was drafted in to play on the coronary heart of a again three tasked with stopping Haaland.
The Club Brugge defender was the one change to the workforce that beat Spain in March after Grant Hanley dropped out with a critical Achilles damage.
The finest probability of the primary half fell to Norway ahead Alexander Sorloth, who despatched a free header from eight yards straight at Angus Gunn.
Scotland struggled to retain possession within the opening 20 minutes earlier than settling down considerably.
Andy Robertson produced two good runs and crosses however they didn’t result in something and McGinn was closed down rapidly after getting a sight of objective following Ryan Christie’s cross.
Steve Clarke’s facet have been using a flat again 5 out of possession and attempting to maintain a excessive line. The solely time Haaland obtained the ball in an honest place within the first half, Callum McGregor rapidly tracked again to make a penalty-box deal with.
The striker might need had a much better probability if he had not been hauled down by Hendry whereas starting a chase for a ball excessive.
Hendry was the final defender however solely obtained a yellow card given the foul was on the midway line. The Slovenian referee was lots harsher in handing bookings to McGinn and Kieran Tierney both facet of half-time.
Erling Haaland gave Norway the lead from the penalty spot
/ APOla Solbakken and McGinn noticed first rate long-range pictures saved early within the second half earlier than Hendry obtained away with some penalty-box grappling with Haaland, though the striker didn’t attraction in contrast to a few of his team-mates.
However, he didn’t have lengthy to attend for a spot-kick. Ryan Porteous grabbed the striker’s shirt as he seemed set to assault Sorloth’s cross and the referee instantly pointed to the spot when Haaland went down.
Porteous in return obtained a yellow card which guidelines him out of Tuesday’s go to of Georgia.
Gunn dived the fitting means and got here shut however was crushed by the ability of the strike from Haaland, who had solely scored as soon as in his earlier eight membership matches however took his tally for the season for membership and nation to 59.
Scotland quickly misplaced Tierney to damage with Liam Cooper coming into the fray and so they have been making no inroads into Norway’s lead earlier than Clarke made a triple change within the 79th minute and moved to a again 4. McLean, Stuart Armstrong and Billy Gilmour got here on.
Haaland went off within the 84th minute and Scotland quickly shocked the hosts and delighted their travelling followers with their late double whammy.