2019-21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers
Scotland 2-2 Croatia
Thursday 12 November 2020, kick-off 3pm
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh

Scotland: Middleton (54), McLennan (70)
Croatia: Moro (20), Bistrovic (25)

Scot Gemmill's men showed incredible resilience and character to come back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against Croatia, knowing a win on Tuesday against Greece will secure Scotland's place at the Under-21 Euros for the first time since 1996.

Two goals from Croatia in the first-half put Scotland on the back foot but substitutes Glenn Middleton and Connor McLennan sealed the draw.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men but it was Scotland who showed their nerve to grind out a crucial point.

As it happened

Croatia dominated possession early on but Scotland pressed high up the pitch and made it incredibly difficult for Croatia to build up any pressure.

Croatia were hemmed in their own half and Alan Campbell tested the visitor’s goalkeeper after 15 minutes when he robbed their midfield and saw his shot from distance well saved.

On Croatia’s first foray into Scotland’s half they scored through captain Nikola Moro after 19 minutes when he picked the ball up inside the box from a cross and managed to slot home.

Five minutes later Kristijan Bistrovic curled the ball into the top of the net from the edge of the box with an impressive strike, leaving Ross Doohan with no chance.

Scotland went in at the break 2-0 down but at the start of the second half, substitute Glenn Middleton made an immediate impact.

With 54 minutes on the clock he meandered across the box before hitting a shot through a ruck of bodies which the Croatia goalkeeper managed to get a hand to, but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.

The game was then turned on its head when Croatia left-back Sosa kicked out at Porteous when he was on the deck giving the referee no option but to send him off.

Scotland had their tails up and Barry Maguire went close to scoring from distance but on this occasion the Croatian stopper was able to pull off a great save.

After pressing hard for an equaliser they received their just rewards after 70 minutes when Daniel Harvie worked his way down the left before swinging in a pinpoint cross which Connor McLennan expertly fired home.

The game was then set for a tense finish when substitute Billy Gilmour was sent-off controversially, eight minutes after entering the field.

Gilmour caught a Croatian midfielder as he dribbled across midfield but with no malice in the tackle, the straight red was met by bemusement.

Just a moment later Glenn Middleton aimed for a second but his run forward ended with a shot which swept across the far post. A winning goal couldn't be found but a draw means qualification is still within Scotland's grasp.

Watch again

What next?

Czech Republic play their final match, against Greece tomorrow night. Both sides are on 18 points as it stands. Depending on that result, Scotland will then travel to Athens to round off their campaign knowing a win will be enough to make history.

Teams

Scotland: Doohan, Reading (Connor McLennan ), Harvie, Porteous, Johnston, Campbell, Patterson (Middleton, 45), Hornby, Maguire, Ferguson (Gilmour, 63), Ross McCrorie (C)

Unused substitutes: Robbie McCrorie, Fiorini, Gilmour, Turnbull, McIntyre, Welsh, McLennan, Mayo

Croatia: Semper, Sverko, Sosa, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Nejasmic, Moro (C) (Djurasek, 81), Kulenovic (Colina, 68), Majer (Musa, 68), Vuskovic, Bistrovic (Frajic, 81)

Unused substitutes: Kotarski, Spikic, Bogojevic, Krizmanic, Vuk