STUART FRASER
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FOOTBALL
SCOTLAND V ICELAND
Freelance Match Report
By Stuart Fraser
Thursday 2nd April 2009
Boozegate had made the headlines all day in the run up to this match but at the end of a stressful 24 hours for George Burley, he could breathe a sigh of relief after his Scotland side picked up three crucial World Cup qualifying points with a 2 – 1 win against Iceland at Hampden last night.
Burley had decided to punish captain Barry Ferguson & Alan McGregor for their drinking session at Cameron House on Sunday morning by dropping them from the starting line-up onto the bench and many fans wondered what effect this would have on the team in this must win match.
Scotland started brightly though and were pushing forward at every opportunity often utilising the pace of Ross McCormack down the left flank. An early penalty shout in the 6th minute when Alan Hutton went down in the box was waved away by Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller.
Early efforts from McCormack and Steven Fletcher went wide but Scotland were reminded of the danger posed by attacking so freely when Iceland produced a quick counter attack in the 12th minute. Gary Naysmith averted danger though by nodding the Icelandic cross out for a corner from which Craig Gordon, back between the sticks for McGregor, took easily.
Scotland’s first effort on target came in the 20th minute when Scott Brown drove forward at the Icelandic defence from a Naysmith throw. The ball fell to Kenny Miller but his shot from the edge of the box lacked power and went straight into Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson’s hands.
The Scots certainly could not be faulted for a lack of effort but despite all the positive play in the first half hour, the breakthrough was still being sought. This often left Scotland open at the back which Iceland exploited with fast paced attacks although these came to no avail.
Scottish chances continued to come and go. Steven Fletcher nodded the ball over the ball from a McCormack corner and in the 38th minute, Miller had the best chance of the match when he ran onto a James Morrison through ball. Miller hesitated in the box though and opted to pass instead of shoot which gave the Iceland defence time to get back and deal with the danger.
The Hampden crowd was still talking about Miller’s wasted chance when the breakthrough finally came 60 seconds later. Hutton burst forward down the right wing into the box with a superb run and played the ball across to the unmarked McCormack who calmly blasted the ball high into the net to put Scotland one up.
This was the 22-year-old’s first international goal and one which was thoroughly deserved given the level of performance he was producing.
Scotland nearly made it two just before half time when another dangerous McCormack corner was headed over the bar by captain Stephen McManus.
Burley would have been a happy man at half time with his side comfortably controlling the match and this continued early in the second half when Scotland nearly got the all important second goal in the 51st minute. A quick exchange of passes on the right flank led to the ball falling to Hutton whose low drive from the edge of the box was blocked by Gunnleifsson.
Hampden was stunned though just three minutes later when Iceland equalised. Palmi Palmason’s superb 25 yard effort came off the post and the Scottish defence stood and watched whilst Indridi Sigurdsson slotted the rebound past Gordon from 12 yards.
The crowd were silenced and the nerves amongst both the fans and players were clearly evident. Scotland continued to push forward though and Burley was on the brink of sending substitute Gary Teale on when his team went back in front in the 65th minute.
McCormack swung in another excellent corner which McManus nodded in towards the goalmouth. Steven Fletcher was first to it and his header went straight into the back of the net from all of three yards. Hampden breathed a huge sigh of relief and Teale was sent back to the bench by Burley.
Teale was eventually brought on though in the 77th minute for Steven Fletcher although there was confusion when the fourth official displayed Scott Brown’s number eight on the electronic board which received a chorus of boos from the Tartan Army. Burley quickly jogged down to the touchline to inform the fourth official of the mistake and McCormack was moved up front with Teale going onto the left wing.
Scotland continued to search for a third goal which would ultimately clinch the three points and James Morrison came close on two occasions. A powerful 30 yard free kick was palmed away, and moments later, he had a shot across goal which went just wide of the post.
Hearts were in mouths in the last minute though when Iceland had three chances in a frantic goalmouth scramble to get the late equaliser. Craig Gordon kept the World Cup dream alive though with a tremendous double save from two close range shots before Palmason blasted the loose ball over the bar.
Scotland were under a tremendous amount of pressure in stoppage time and another Icelandic chance came and went before the full time whistle went which moved Scotland back into second place in Group nine behind the Netherlands.
SCOTLAND: Gordon, Hutton, Caldwell, McManus, Naysmith, D Fletcher, Brown, Morrison (Rae 90), McCormack, Miller, S Fletcher (Teale 77).
Subs not used: McGregor, Berra, Ferguson, Clarkson, Whittaker.
Goals: McCormack 39, S Fletcher 65.
ICELAND: Gunnleifsson, Steinsson, K Sigurdsson, I Sigurdsson (Bjornsson 80), Danielsson, Eiriksson, A Gunnarsson (Jonsson 70), Helguson, Palmason, Gudjohnsen, Smarason.
Subs not used: Arason, Gudmundsson, R Sigurdsson, Gunnarson, Bjarnason.
Goals: I Sigurdsson 54.
ATTENDANCE: 42, 259
REFEREE: Thomas Einwaller (Austria).