Nations League: Scotland Edge Out 10-Man Croatia in Thrilling Match

McGinn Secures Dramatic Win with Late Goal

Scotland’s John McGinn scored a late goal to secure a 1-0 win over 10-man Croatia in their penultimate Group A1 game at Hampden Park on Friday. The dramatic winner came in the 86th minute, ensuring Scotland’s first Nations League victory.

Croatia’s Dominance and Missed Chances

Croatia dominated the first half, but will rue their missed chances. They were unable to capitalize on their possession and created only a few half-chances. Scotland, on the other hand, struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities, with their best efforts being half-chances that were easily dealt with by the Croatian defense.

Sucic’s Red Card Turns the Tide

Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 44th minute after barging into John Souttar. This changed the dynamics of the game, with Scotland growing in confidence as the game wore on.

Modric’s Dismissal Adds to Croatia’s Woes

Croatia captain Luka Modric was booked for arguing with the referee, meaning he will miss Monday’s game against Portugal. This further reduced Croatia’s chances of mounting a comeback.

McGinn’s Heroics

McGinn had the Tartan Army roaring with his 86th-minute goal. The goal came after Ben Doak, who was terrific in the second half, beat his man before launching a cross that goalkeeper Andrej Kramaric punched away only for McGinn to fire home the dramatic winner.

Implications for Scotland and Croatia

Croatia remain on seven points behind Portugal, who clinched top spot and moved to 13 with a 5-1 win over Poland. Scotland are still bottom but now level on four points with third-placed Poland, setting up a key match between the two on Monday.

Conclusion

Scotland’s victory is a significant boost to their confidence, and they will look to build on this result in their upcoming match against Poland. Croatia, on the other hand, will need to regroup and refocus ahead of their game against Portugal, which they cannot afford to lose if they hope to stay in contention for the top spot.

FAQs

What was the score in the match between Scotland and Croatia?

The score was 1-0 in favor of Scotland, with John McGinn scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute.

How many yellow cards were shown in the match?

A total of three yellow cards were shown in the match, with Petar Sucic being dismissed for a second yellow card.

Will Luka Modric miss Croatia’s next match?

Yes, Luka Modric will miss Croatia’s next match against Portugal after being booked for arguing with the referee.

What are the implications of the result for Scotland and Croatia?

The result means that Scotland are now level on four points with third-placed Poland, setting up a key match between the two on Monday. Croatia remain on seven points behind Portugal, who clinched top spot with a 5-1 win over Poland.