Euro qualifiers: Shock as Scotland beat Spain 2-0
Scotland’s bid for consecutive European Championships took a massive step forward as they pulled off a heroic triumph by stunning Spain. In just seven minutes, Scott McTominay scored the opening goal, which was deflected in and caused an explosion of noise at Hampden Park. Steve Clarke’s team had to ride their luck to maintain their lead at half-time, but McTominay repeated his earlier feat just after the restart, causing chaos in the stands as well as the Spanish defence.
Scotland, in their first competitive victory over Spain in 39 years, now top Group A – three points above Spain and five in front of Norway.
This win was particularly significant for Scotland, who had endured a series of defeats in the past.
Although boss Steve Clarke had led Scotland to Euro 2020, this win was a landmark moment that was up there with dumping Denmark and shootouts in Serbia.
From the seventh minute onwards, Scotland dominated the game. Pedro Porro, Spurs’ full-back, slipped, allowing Andy Robertson to seize the opportunity. Robertson’s cutback was perfect for McTominay, whose low rifled shot deflected off Inigo Martinez and into the net.
Then in the 51st minute, McTominay struck on the half-volley from a Kieran Tierney cross, and again, McTominay found the back of the net.
The second goal sealed the game, Spain never quite recovered, their passes were all over the place and the loss marked the second defeat in 39 European Championship qualifiers for the Spaniards.
After two games, Scotland are sitting pretty in Group A. Their performance here was markedly up from the one which was enough in a perfunctory 3-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday.
Scotland go to Norway on 16 June (19:45 BST) for an encounter which could have huge ramifications in Group A, before hosting Georgia three days later.
Euro qualifiers – Match stats
- Scotland earned their first win over Spain since November 1984 (3-1 in a World Cup qualifier), while this was just their third ever competitive victory against them (1957, 1984 and 2023).
- Spain suffered their first defeat in a Euro qualifying match since October 2014 (1-2 v Slovakia), having won 17 of their last 19 such fixtures (D2) and never conceding more than once in a game in this run.
- Scotland have won five consecutive home matches for the first time since September 2006-October 2007, when they won six in a row between tenures of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish.
- McTominay became the first Scotland player to score a brace against Spain since Maurice Johnston in a World Cup qualifier in November 1984, which also came in a win at Hampden Park.
- McTominay has scored twice in each of his last two caps, becoming just the second Scotland player this century to score a brace in consecutive international outings, after James Forrest in November 2018.
- Robertson has assisted three goals in his last three games for Scotland, while he’s the first player to assist in three consecutive appearances since Ryan Fraser in March 2019.
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