UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifier
Georgia 2-2 Scotland
Thursday, 16 November 2023
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi

Scorers

Georgia 2 (Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 15’,57’)

Scotland 2 (Scott McTominay 49’, Lawrence Shankland 90+3’)

Team News

In the absence of regular number one Angus Gunn, missing due to injury, Zander Clark was handed his first competitive Scotland start.

Kieren Tierney, Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey were also missing from the squad due to injury. Ché Adams was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury and he was replaced by Lawrence Shankland.

John McGinn captained the side in the absence of skipper Andy Robertson.

As It Happened

Scotland travelled to Georgia for their first of two fixtures in the final Men's international window of 2023 with Scotland already having already secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2024 during the previous window.

The game marked Steve Clarke’s 50th game as Head Coach of the Scotland Men’s National Team, placing him behind only Craig Brown, Andy Roxburgh and Jock Stein in the all-time list of men's A Head Coaches.

It was the home side that took the lead after only 15 minutes. Otar Kakabadze played a first time ball into the box which was slotted home by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who made amends for a missed penalty when the two sides last met at Hampden park in June.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal separated the sides at half time following an action packed opening 45 minutes that saw Scotland have a number of set-pieces in and around the Georgia box, but largely unable to trouble Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Scotland had a positive start to the second half and got their equaliser four minutes after play restarted. Kenny McLean - having just come off the bench during the break - slipped the ball into Scott McTominay who took a few touches to make his way into the box before firing the ball into the back of the net to score his 7th goal in seven qualifying matches. One more in this campaign against Norway on Sunday will see him break the record for goals in a Men's qualifying for Scotland.

In the 57th minute, Khvicha Kvarastskhelia scored again. The winger received the ball out wide before driving down the wing and cutting into the box, firing a great finish into the bottom corner.

Scotland continued to create chances and put pressure on Georgia to get an equaliser. In the 88th minute, Lewis Ferguson came close to grabbing the equaliser when he got on the end of a good ball into the box however his header was saved by the Georgia keeper.

In the three minutes into a total of seven minutes of injury time, Scotland scored their well earned equaliser thanks to two of their substitutes. Stuart Armstrong played a great ball into the box which was headed home by Lawrence Shankland to ensure Scotland gained a point from the game.

Next Up

Scotland welcome Norway to Hampden Park on Sunday, 19 November for a 7:45pm kick off in their final UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifier of the campaign. The match is sold out but it will be broadcast on ViaPlay Sports 1.

Teams

Georgia: Mamardashvili, Kashia, Lochoshvili (Kalandadze 78’), Shengelia (Azarovi 72’), Kakabadze, Kvirkvelia, Kochorashvili, Kvekveskiri (Mekvabishvili 69’), Chakvetadze (Davitashvili 72’), Mikautadze (Zivzivadze 69’), Kvaratskhelia

Unused Substitutes: Gugeshashvili, Loria, Gelashvili, Gocholeishvili, Mamuchashvili, Altunashvili, Volkovi

Scotland: Clark, Taylor (Armstrong 79’), McTominay, McGinn, McGregor, Dykes, Christie (Ferguson 46’), Gilmour (McLean 46’), Porteous, McKenna, Patterson (Ralston 79’)

Unused Substitutes: McCrorie, Kelly, Doig, Cooper, Shankland, Hendry, Brown, Jack