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Scotland 0-0 Portugal: Nations League – as it happened | Nations League

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1 month ago

October 16, 2024

Scotland 0-0 Portugal: Nations League – as it happened | Nations League

Bernardo Silva wins a corner down the right, but there’s no time to take it. The whistle goes, and Scotland have their first point of this Nations League campaign!

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No added time. Scotland quickly make their way down the tunnel to receive some beneficial tactical advice.

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Scotland: Gordon, Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, Christie, McTominay, Doak, Adams.
Subs: McCracken, McCrorie, Barron, Dykes, MacKenzie, Irving, Porteous, Lindsay, Morgan, Nisbet, Gauld, Deviln.

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Portugal: Costa, Mendes, A Silva, Dias, Cancelo, Vitinha, Palhinha, Fernandes, Jota, Ronaldo, Conceição.
Subs: Velho, R Silva, Semedo, Dalot, Trincão, B Silva, Félix, Veiga, J Neves, Otávio, Leão, R Neves.

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Referee: Lawrence Visser (Belgium).

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🔢 One change from Saturday's match.

📺 Watch live here: https://t.co/uV8bYnxPV8#SCOPOR pic.twitter.com/KpWJkViqLG

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 15, 2024

“}, #U21EURO pic.twitter.com/eO6LJJvStV

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 15, 2024

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The top-line statistic makes for grim reading: Scotland have won just one of their last 15 matches. That solitary victory doesn’t bring much succour either, coming as it did in an extremely unconvincing 2-0 against Gibraltar, a landmass roughly similar in acreage to that infinitely more picturesque rock, the Bow Fiddle, plus neighbouring fishing villages Portknockie, Findochty and Cullen.

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If that (admittedly scrumptious) statistic isn’t damning sufficient, right here’s some extra context. Derbyshire, who got here final in cricket’s County Championship this yr, gained one in all 14 video games. Rugby league’s London Broncos, backside of this season’s Tremendous League, gained three of 27 at a charge of 1 in 9. And the worst group within the NFL, the Carolina Panthers, ended final season 2-15. It doesn’t look good, although not less than Scotland didn’t commerce away Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Ben Doak for Anthony Ralston. Poor Sir Purr.

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However the factor is, you possibly can push any outdated argument with knowledge, and that stat doesn’t inform the entire story. Scotland might have stunk the place out at Euro 2024, however their subsequent Nations League performances have been curate’s-egg stage at worst, extremely promising for those who’re being a little bit extra beneficiant. Steve Clarke’s aspect have gone toe-to-toe with three nominally higher sides in Poland, Portugal and Croatia, enjoying extraordinarily nicely for lengthy durations in every match, solely to undergo late sickeners each time: a slipshod late penalty right here, an equaliser judged millimetres offside there, the all-time relentless nature of the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo the opposite.

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So sure, Scotland may do with some further high quality, it’s true, and at instances they’ve been their very own worst enemy. However they may additionally do with a little bit little bit of luck going their means for as soon as. Portugal, ranked eighth on the planet, won’t be one of the best opponents to face when trying to find that momentum-shifting break. However Scotland’s barren run has to finish someday, and Hampden is the place Portugal’s Iberian cousins Spain misplaced their final significant fixture, so why not tonight? Right here’s hoping, anyway. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. It’s on!

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Key occasions

Ewan Murray was at Hampden, and his report is in. Right here it’s! Thanks for studying this MBM. Nighty evening.

It’s now one win in 16 for Scotland, and ten matches with out victory in aggressive fixtures, however not less than they’ve snapped a four-game dropping run. Tonight’s level additionally offers them a preventing probability of avoiding automated relegation to League B. Maybe most significantly, they didn’t undergo any last-minute heartbreak: a fifth match in a row, after late winners for Hungary, Poland and Portugal, adopted by a late disallowed aim in Croatia, would have been an excessive amount of to bear. An excellent night for Steve Clarke and Scotland, then, even when it’s all to be taken in context. Child steps, small acorns, all that.

The opposite match in Group A1 has completed Poland 3-3 Croatia. The guests ended the match with ten males, keeper Dominik Livaković despatched off for catching Robert Lewandowski along with his studs. All of which suggests the desk seems like this tonight.

Portugal P3 W3 D1 L0 F7 A3 Pts 10
Croatia P3 W2 D1 L1 F7 A6 Pts 7
Poland P3 W1 D1 L2 F7 A9 Pts 4
Scotland P3 W0 D1 L3 F4 A7 Pts 1

Scotland host Croatia within the first sport of the November worldwide break, then journey to Poland for a match which can or might not give them an opportunity of escaping automated relegation to League B. Must be a number of enjoyable, which is one thing we’ll all have to remind ourselves after we begin moaning concerning the Premier League taking one more week off.

Some weapons-grade petulance by Ronaldo because the whistle goes. He needed the prospect to take the nook, however the clock had ticked over the four-minute mark, so the referee was inside his rights to blow for full-time. Ronaldo melts down, ranting on the referee, waving his arms about, giving the Scotland followers a double thumbs-down, earlier than storming off down the tunnel within the highest dudgeon. However by no means thoughts that show of eejitry: Scotland totally deserved their level after a resolute defensive show that additionally produced a few very respectable possibilities for Scott McTominay. It’s price noting that, for all Portugal’s domination of territory and ball, Craig Gordon didn’t have an excessive amount of to do.

FULL TIME: Scotland 0-0 Portugal

Bernardo Silva wins a nook down the best, however there’s no time to take it. The whistle goes, and Scotland have their first level of this Nations League marketing campaign!

90 min +4: Robertson crosses for Dykes. Scotland couldn’t, may they? Nope. Nevertheless it doesn’t matter as a result of …

90 min +3: The nook results in McTominay being stunned, and the whistle goes for a clock-eating free kick. Ronaldo back-heels the ball away petulantly, and is lucky not to enter the ebook, although it’s an act that doesn’t precisely do his group any favours with time working out.

90 min +2: A ball comes bouncing into the Scotland field from the best. It falls to Leão, who has time to measurement up a shot from eight yards. He skelps the ball … just for Devlin to unfold himself and block bravely! Out for a nook.

90 min +1: The primary of these 4 minutes goes by with out incident. Everybody’s serious about it, aren’t they?

90 min: Devlin’s first act is to usher an extended ball out of play for a aim kick, with the aforementioned Leão on his shoulder. There might be 4 further minutes.

89 min: Nicky Devlin comes on for his debut, changing Ralston, who was starting to be given the runaround by Leão at right-back.

88 min: Portugal throw on one other couple of gamers. João Félix and Nélson Semedo for João Cancelo and Vitinha.

87 min: Leão dribbles delicately down the left, leaving Ralston for mud. He cuts again for Fernandes, who slaps a first-time shot in the direction of the underside left. Gordon drops on the ball and grabs on the second try with Ronaldo lurking.

86 min: Bernardo Silva wins a nook down the best. Nothing comes of it, however Scotland can’t get out. They’re holding their form on the minute, although, which is one thing.

84 min: Dykes won’t be essentially the most refined participant on the market, however he’s a presence all proper. And right here he almost sends McTominay clear with a go made by way of the medium of diving header. Intercepted, however let’s dream, and what an help that would have been!

83 min: Dykes replaces Adams.

82 min: A cross into the Scotland field from the best. Ronaldo brings the ball down, 12 yards out, shifts it from proper to left, and lashes a wild shot proper of aim. He claims a nook, however isn’t getting one. Dias goes into the ebook for urgent the purpose too passionately.

81 min: Portugal proceed to hog the ball. The stress at Hampden is now palpable, with Scotland’s first level of their Nations League marketing campaign inside touching distance.

79 min: Cancelo curls a deep cross into the Scottish mixer from the best. Gordon rises highest to pluck the ball from the sky. Each defensive effort met with an enormous Hampden roar.

77 min: The match immediately goes basketball, as Scotland counter the counter, Morgan enjoying a cute reverse go down the best touchline to launch Ralston into acres. He’s acquired McTominay clear within the center, however overhits the low cross and McTominay is pressured extensive left, the place the transfer peters out. Oh my. A technique or one other, it’s simply not occurring for McTominay tonight in any respect.

76 min: … so for all Portugal’s domination, McTominay has arguably had one of the best two probabilities of the night. What a wierd sport soccer could be. Then up the opposite finish, Bernardo Silva jinks his means into house down the best and cuts again from the byline, however someway misses out Ronaldo, permitting Gilmour to calmly mop up.

74 min: One other enormous probability for McTominay! House for Morgan down the best. He crosses lengthy. Adams heads again throughout aim as an alternative of going for aim. Not the worst resolution, with McTominay shaping to shoot on the penalty spot, however someway the ball rears up and Scotland’s high scorer takes a fresh-air swipe.

The ball simply doesn’t stay up for Scott McDominate. {Photograph}: Lee Smith/Motion Photos/Reuters

73 min: Robertson commits to a sliding sort out and misses each ball and participant solely. Mendes is ready to steal away with the ball and cross, however fortuitously for Scotland and their embarrassed captain, the ball sails out of play for a aim kick. “This now jogs my memory of a typical SPL sport, with Portugal as Celtic and Scotland as, say, Ross County or St Johnstone,” writes Simon McMahon. “The one debate is whether or not Portugal/Celtic’s profitable aim might be scored simply earlier than or simply after the 90-minute mark.”

71 min: Gilmour’s poor backpass almost permits Ronaldo. Gordon rushes to the sting of his field to blooter clear and save his team-mates blushes.

69 min: It’s now 3-3 in Warsaw, Poland levelling issues up in opposition to Croatia by Sebastian Szymański. Not one of the best information for Scotland as they dream of avoiding automated relegation from League A, however not a hope-killer both.

67 min: Scotland make two modifications. Doak – the primary 18-year-old to start out consecutive video games for the Scots since Paul McStay in 1983 – and Christie make means for Morgan and Gauld.

Ben Doak holds off Vitinha throughout a robust show from the 18 yr outdated. {Photograph}: Andrew Milligan/PA

66 min: McTominay works arduous down the best and wins Scotland’s first nook of the sport. Robertson swings it into the six-yard field. Hanley will get too near Costa and the whistle goes for a free kick.

65 min: McLean dribbles out of his personal field and appears to interrupt. He’s clipped by João Cancelo, cynically from behind, however the Portugal participant doesn’t go into the ebook. The ref feeling beneficiant.

64 min: Portugal are starting to say themselves once more. The second half unfolding very like the primary one did.

63 min: McLean over-elborates within the centre circle and items possession to Fernandes, who dribbles arduous down the inside-right channel earlier than slicing inside. He’s acquired choices within the field, however will get caught between taking pictures and crossing, and finally does neither. McLean breathes a little bit simpler.

61 min: Portugal make a triple change, hooking João Palhinha, Jota and the vigorous Conceição and sending on Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão and Rúben Neves.

60 min: Adams is clipped to the ground and falls on the ball. A wee tussle with Dias ensues. The referee trots over to remind each that they’re grown males. Within the meantime, listed here are some existential musings courtesy of Justin Kavanagh: “Poor Scott McTominay, he escapes a relegation battle at membership stage to hitch a high, high Italian group, solely to seek out himself mired in one other relegation dogfight at worldwide stage. He’s the modern-day personification of the footballing Scots’ potential to grab despondency from the jaws of happiness. I make this commentary having spent a beautiful morning on the Scottish Soccer Museum this week, coming away asking if they provide any remedy for the poor individuals (thanks Peter!) who work there all these ‘so-close’ moments on video loop. All day. Each day!”

58 min: Conceição wins a nook down the best. Fernandes takes a wierd one which hits the close to publish and pings out for a aim kick. Unsure whether or not Gordon knew what was occurring there, or if the ball had curled out of play earlier than clattering the body of the aim. Both means, that put a couple of hearts in mouths.

57 min: Souttar sends McTominay into house. McTominay tees up Christie on the sting of the D, however Christie can neither shoot nor shuttle the ball extensive left for Robertson.

55 min: Portugal have loved 67 p.c of possession up to now. And now they’ve acquired the ball within the internet for the primary time, however solely after Mendes had dribbled the ball clearly out of play down the left and reduce for Ronaldo to faucet dwelling. No celebration. Ronaldo knew the rating.

53 min: Doak and Robertson mix cutely down the left, the latter swinging a cross in for Adams, who’s inches away from getting his head to the ball, six yards out. Perhaps it skimmed his eyebrows, it was that shut. However the ball flashes out for a aim kick.

51 min: Robertson’s deep outswinging free kick is harmful, forcing Costa to punch clear in a panic. However then the whistle goes for an excessive amount of Scottish shoving. Portugal go straight up the opposite finish and almost rating, Conceição exchanging passes with Ronaldo down the center earlier than blazing over from the sting of the field. He ought to have labored Gordon not less than. Someplace within the multiverse, Portugal have gone 2-0 up in double-quick time.

50 min: Doak drops a shoulder to make his means down the inside-left channel at pace, and is hacked down by the hanging leg of João Palhinha, who goes into the ebook. A free kick. Everybody strains up on the sting of the Portugal field.

48 min: Robertson misplaces a go within the midfield and permits his Liverpool team-mate Jota to tear off down the left. Jota clips again for Ronaldo, in acres on the penalty spot. Ronaldo heads over the bar. Nowhere close to. What an opportunity that was. Ronaldo seems pained, as nicely he may. The online ought to have bulged reasonably than his incredulous eyes.

Cristiano Ronaldo watches his header sail nicely over the bar. {Photograph}: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

47 min: All a bit scrappy. Neither group again in control but.

Portugal get the second half underway. No modifications.

Half-time promoting break. Join now! Join now! Join now? Join now!

HALF TIME: Poland 2-3 Croatia. No targets at Hampden, nevertheless it’s been a unique story in Warsaw. Piotr Zieliński gave the hosts a fifth-minute lead, just for Croatia to hit again with three targets in seven minutes halfway by the half, courtesy of Borna Sosa, Petar Sučić and Martin Baturina. All excellent news for Scotland, who really want the Croats to win tonight in the event that they’re to have any life like probability of avoiding automated relegation from League A … however Poland lowered their arrears simply earlier than the break by Nicola Zalewski, so every little thing’s again within the stability. As issues stand, Group A1 seems like this.

Portugal P3 W3 D1 L0 F7 A3 Pts 10
Croatia P3 W3 D0 L1 F7 A5 Pts 9
Poland P3 W1 D0 L3 F6 A9 Pts 3
Scotland P3 W0 D1 L3 F4 A7 Pts 1

HALF TIME: Scotland 0-0 Portugal

No added time. Scotland rapidly make their means down the tunnel to obtain some useful tactical recommendation.

43 min: Conceição slips Cancelo into house down the best. Cancelo dinks a cross in from the byline. Ronaldo is lurking however Gordon half clears. Vitinha meets the dropping ball on the sting of the D and slashes over. Scotland may do with listening to the half-time whistle.

41 min: … however Portugal come straight again at Scotland, Ronaldo welting a wild try miles over the bar from distance. Hampden celebrates by slipping again into panto mode.

40 min: Conceição in acres down the best. He’s acquired choices within the center, or may shoot himself, however makes an attempt a wierd cutback to … nicely, who? Adams intercepts and clears.

38 min: Scotland get their press going, and Portugal ship possession to McLean, who makes an attempt to seek out Doak with a right-to-left cross, however critically overcooks it. A bit of higher from the hosts.

37 min: … and also you’d assume there’s no actual want for Portugal to be claiming issues they don’t deserve, as a result of they’re nicely on high, and certainly a gap aim is simply a matter of time. They’re coming at Scotland from all angles, with Conceição borderline unplayable.

35 min: Hanley ushers a ball rolling very slowly again in the direction of the Scotland field. It makes it simply in time for Gordon to assert on the road. Fernandes screams to recommend Gordon had dealt with the ball out of the field, however that’s clearly not the case, and he’s actually making an attempt it on.

34 min: Conceição is an absolute menace down the best. Yet one more cross, this time met by Ronaldo, whose header instigates a fast sport of pinball. Scotland clear. Ronaldo claims a penalty for handball, however come on and are available off it.