Report, result and goals as comeback boosts World Cup qualification hopes

Scotland boosted their hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup as they got here from behind at Hampden Park to beat Greece 3-1 in qualifying.

Greece gained 3-0 at Hampden in March to sentence Scotland to Nations League relegation, and so they had been dominant for lengthy durations on Thursday.

The guests took a deserved lead within the 62nd minute by Kostas Tsimikas, just for Ryan Christie to answer nearly immediately with an equaliser towards the run of play.

And Hampden was despatched into raptures when Lewis Ferguson accomplished the turnaround by bundling dwelling after Greece did not clear a free-kick. Lyndon Dykes then added the completion in harm time after a dreadful error from Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

Scotland are degree on seven factors with Group C leaders Denmark, with Greece 4 factors additional again. A win over Belarus on Sunday, mixed with a Greece defeat in Copenhagen, would assure a minimum of a play-off spot for Scotland.

Greece ultimately make dominance pay

Greece instantly seemed primed to duplicate their Nations League show and may have taken an early lead, however Vangelis Pavlidis did not make contact with Anastasios Bakasetas’ low supply with the aim at his mercy for a tap-in.

Pavlidis spurned one other large probability early within the second half when he headed effectively over from the centre of the field, earlier than Giorgos Masouras was afforded the liberty of the realm, however solely achieve lashing excessive.

Scotland right-back Aaron Hickey was pressured off by harm in regarding scenes for supervisor Steve Clarke, whose night took an extra flip for the more severe when Tsimikas lastly made the hosts pay.

Christos Tzolis and Bakasetas linked up on the appropriate and, after Pavlidis’ preliminary effort was blocked, Tsimikas powered past Angus Gunn.

However Greece’s lead lasted simply two minutes.

Scotland’s decisive response

Christie restored parity with a first-time effort after a nook was helped again into the field by Anthony Ralston. The ball ultimately fell to Bournemouth’s Christie, who made no mistake with an emphatic end.

That aim woke a subdued Hampden, which was despatched rocking 10 minutes from time when Ferguson pounced following extra defensive failings from the surprised guests.

Konstantinos Karetsas drew a shocking injury-time save from Gunn as Greece sought a leveller, however a dreadful piece of goalkeeping sealed their destiny.

Tzolakis’ efforts to stop the ball from going out for a nook within the 93rd minute as a substitute led to them handing it on a plate to a gleeful Dykes, who lashed into the empty web to safe victory.