Scotland kept their World Cup rescue mission on track as they overcame Malta with a businesslike 2-0 win over Malta.
On a night when three points was the bare minimum for the Scots to keep their hopes of claiming a play-off slot alive, Christophe Berra calmed Tartan Army nerves by heading home after nine minutes before Leigh Griffiths added a second just after the break.
For a spell, the biggest danger to Gordon Strachan’s men did not come from their opponents – ranked 190th in the world – but from events at Wembley, where their main challengers for second place Slovakia shocked Group F leaders England by taking the lead.
That then led to the rarest of occurrences at Hampden, however, as the home crowd cheered when news broke that Gareth Southgate’s men had regained control, allowing Scotland to close within a point before next month’s all-important Hampden showdown.
FULL TIME | Scotland 2-0 Malta. Goals in either half from Christophe Berra and Leigh Griffiths seal the three points for Scotland. #SCOMLT pic.twitter.com/CycP1pMzCi
— Scotland (@ScottishFA) September 4, 2017
What they said
Tweet of the match
Griffiths could open a tin of beans with that left peg. Right on the money again. ????????
— Jamie Langfield (@jamlang22) September 4, 2017
Star man
Leigh Griffiths: 3 goals, 3 assists in his last 3 #SCO???????????????????????????? games. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/RZvNYPeBsK
— European Qualifiers (@EuroQualifiers) September 4, 2017
Moment of the match
GOAL SCOTLAND! Christophe Berra heads Scotland in front from a corner. 1-0 Scotland. pic.twitter.com/tjl7lw3gaU
— Scotland (@ScottishFA) September 4, 2017
Scotland’s early opener was welcomed by the home support but news of England’s leveller against Slovakia at Wembley took away a lot – but not all – of the nerves which were swirling round the famous old stadium.
View from the bench
Strachan claimed beforehand that he always expected the unexpected as a manager. The win against Group F’s bottom side was certainly expected. What was unexpected, certainly among the hopeful Tartan Army, was Slovakia taking the lead against England. However, all ended well for the Scotland boss who will turn his attention towards Slovakia.
Ratings
Craig Gordon 6, Kieran Tierney 7, Christophe Berra 7, Charlie Mulgrew 6, Andy Robertson6, Scott Brown: 6, James McArthur 5, Matt Phillips 6, Stuart Armstrong 7, James Forrest 7, Leigh Griffiths 8,
Who’s up next?
Tickets for our crunch match against Slovakia at Hampden on 5 October are now on sale: https://t.co/UGzFDkRxWt pic.twitter.com/qgOhxbGvEn
— Scotland (@ScottishFA) September 4, 2017
