McTominay gives Scotland dramatic win, Sweden disregards Kosovo
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Paris (AFP)
Scott McTominay made an injury win when Scotland came from behind to pick up a decisive 3-2 victory over Israel in the World Cup qualifiers on Saturday, while Sweden beat Kosovo to continue their hunt for Spain.
The victory takes Scotland four points from Israel in second place in Group F with three matches left when they bid to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Group winners automatically qualify for next year’s final in Qatar, where the runner-up enters the playoffs.
Scotland trailed twice during the first half at Hampden Park to goals from PSV Eindhoven forward Eran Zahavi and Mu’nas Dabbur.
John McGinn equalized once, but home Lyndon Dykes missed a penalty on the half-time.
He made changes before the hour mark with a receipt, assigned after a VAR review after the referee initially did not allow it for a high start.
One point would have been a decent result for Steve Clarke’s men, but the hosts put pressure on a winner who came on in the 94th minute when Manchester United midfielder McTominay bundled himself into the back post.
The Scots still have a small chance to top the group, which is behind the leaders Denmark, who visit Moldova later on Saturday, with four points.
“We have a few games left and we just have to be focused. We wanted a win tonight and we got it,” Dykes told Sky Sports.
Sweden moved within one point of Group B leaders Spain thanks to a 3-0 victory over Kosovo in Solna.
Alexander Isak scored a magnificent goal to capture a brilliant individual show, with Robin Quaison and Emil Forsberg also on the results list.
Sweden also has a game in hand in Spain, which they will visit in their final qualifier next month.
Greece kept their hopes of getting into the top two when two late goals secured a 2-0 victory in Georgia.
The Greeks remain undefeated and are three points behind Sweden and also have a game in hand in Spain.
Elsewhere, the Republic of Ireland finally won Group A for the first time by brushing aside Azerbaijan 3-0 in Baku.
Ukraine finished a race in five straight draws with a 2-1 victory in Finland to consolidate its grip on second place in Group D.
The quarter-finalists in Euro 2020 are two points ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Kazakhstan 2-0, and four points behind France.
© 2021 AFP