Scotland takes control of Nations League Group B1 with a 3-0 win in the Scotland vs Ukraine match on Wednesday. Thanks to goals from John McGinn and substitute Lyndon Dykes at Hampden Park.
Steve Clarke’s side, which has now moved two points clear at the top of their Nations League group after the heartbreak of missing out on the World Cup opened the scoring through McGinn (70) before Lyndon Dykes headed in twice from corners (80, 87) to help Scotland make amends against Ukraine following defeat in June’s World Cup semi-final play-off.
Scotland had the best of the chances in a scrappy first half, with Christie heading over after getting underneath Armstrong’s cross before narrowly mistiming his follow-up run after the Southampton midfielder’s shot was kept out by Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has been a transfer target for Arsenal and Brentford, was a constant thorn in the side of Everton right-back Nathan Patterson until he was stretched off but was largely kept quiet in the second half by Brentford’s Aaron Hickey.
Adams led the line well for Scotland and thought he had broken through the Ukraine defense in the closing stages of the first half until he was body-checked by Valeriy Bondar. Scotland boss Steve Clarke was incensed on the touchline and felt it was deserving of a red card, but Oleksandr Karavaev was on the cover and Adams’ last touch took the ball away from goal.
Scotland we spurred on by the perceived injustice of the decision after the break and Armstrong had two chances to break the deadlock, but was prevented by Trubin before firing over from close range with the goal seemingly at his mercy after a neat one-two with Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.
Adams had two big opportunities to score with his head at the back post but was kept by the crossbar and Ukraine goalkeeper Trubin, before floating a cross into Armstrong only for the midfielder to spurn his third chance in a matter of minutes with a poor mistimed header.
But Scotland eventually got the breakthrough when McGinn outmuscled Bondar just inside the box before turning and firing a low, drilled strike into the bottom corner. The arrivals of Ryan Fraser and Dykes paid immediate dividends, as the Newcastle wide-man set up the QPR striker for two-headed goals from corners.
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Scotland has taken control of Group B1, with only two draws needed against the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine to finish top. Promotion to the top tier of the Nation’s League would give Scotland the guarantee of a Euro 2024 play-off should they miss out on qualification.
