With two-thirds of the 12-match Euro 2008 qualifying series
completed, Scotland's second place in Group B may not last beyond Wednesday's
trip to Paris, but they have already exceeded all possible expectations
in a section that also includes world champions Italy and Ukraine.
The victory over Lithuania that had seemed imperative was secured by the
goals from Kris Boyd, Stephen McManus and substitute James McFadden, but
not before a great deal of sweat had been shed against awkward opponents
who had looked like causing potentially irreparable damage when they equalised
with a penalty kick from Tomas Danilevicius.
Few, if any, among the capacity crowd would have been astonished that
the first goal from Boyd should come from a set piece. when O'Connor was
fouled by Tomas Zvirgzdauskas out on the right, Fletcher once again delivered
a precise cross and Boyd, having made an intelligent run across the box,
put himself ahead of the defence.
It should have been more. Darren Fletcher's corner kick from the right
swung out to Garry O'Connor on the 18-yard line and his header sent the
ball diagonally left across the area to Boyd. From six yards, the Rangers
striker's header was saved by Karcemarskas, but the ball came off the
crossbar to Lee McCulloch.
His downward header to the left of the goalkeeper was weak, allowing the
latter to recover from what must have been at least a mild shock and fall
to his left to complete the double save. In truth, McCulloch's was an
especially poor effort.
Appropriately encouraged, the Scots should have yet again scored a second
when Fletcher's quick break through the inside-left channel brought a
pass to Boyd, on the left of the penalty area and with only the goalkeeper
to beat. He drove the ball against the legs of Karcemarskas.
They chances kept coming and going and when they didn't score they paid
the price when Danilevicius scored from the spot after a controversial
penalty was given.
The substitute, Saulius Mikoliunas, jinked inside from the right and teased
Fletcher into a risky challenge. Even so, it was clear that the Manchester
United player's outstretched foot made no contact with the Hearts winger,
whose intention had seemed, from the start, to be to hit the dirt. Danilevisius
converted with a powerful drive to the left of Craig Gordon.
But Alex McLeish's substitutions, certainly overdue in the cases of the
ineffective Teale and McCulloch, proved to be providential. Shaun Maloney,
who had replaced McCulloch, used his first touch - receiving a short corner
from Fletcher on the left - to cross to the far post, where McManus galloped
in to volley the ball with his knee high past Karcemarskas from four yards,
leaving the keeper with no chance.
The maverick McFadden, having taken over from the misplaced Teale, lived
up to his reputation for producing the unexpected when he ran on to Boyd's
pass, carried the ball in from the right and hit his left-foot shot from
the edge of the area high to the right of the goalkeeper.
The victory was essential to the Scots' retaining an interest in the competition,
but also confirmed that they are a team to whom such rewards never come
easy. But at least it kept them in with a chance of getting out of a very
tough group.
, September 9, 2007
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