Scotland pay penalty for Hendry trip : FOOTBALL

Greece 1

Scotland 0

It would be over-stating the case to describe Scotland's defeat here last night as a Greek tragedy, especially since much of the damage was self-inflicted. Yet to succumb to a penalty conceded early on by Colin Hendry was a bitter disappointment - all the more so because Greece only occasionally lived up to their billing as the leaders of Group Eight.

The outcome, and possibly qualification for the European Championship finals turned on two penalty decisions; the one awarded the Greece and another dubiously denied to John Spencer in the final moments. But despite intense late pressure Scotland did notcreate sufficient opportunities to feel genuinely hard done by.

There is now a three-month hiatus for the next game in the section which sends the Scots to meet the favourites, Russia. Whatever fate awaits them in Moscow they can scarcely endure a more ill-stared trip than their visit to the Greek capital.

The mishaps started when several players' bags were broken into at the airport. Then Paul McStay withdrew from the side because of a throat infection. Finally, as if the goal by Efstratios Apostolakis was not enough of a blow in itself, Scotland saw their goalkeeper, Andy Goram, limp off with internal bleeding in his right calf 13 minutes from time.

Jim Leighton, coming on for his 62nd cap, was a virtual spectator as Scotland laid siege to Greece's goal. Too often, however, the ball was pumped forward hopefully rather than with any strategy in mind. Duncan Ferguson, returning after 21 months in the international wilderness, seldom received the service he might have anticipated.

Scotland's goal fell after 19 minutes of sparing. A rapid one-two between Panagiotis Tsalouchidis and Alexious Alexandris carried the latter deep into the area, where he tumbled under Hendry's challenge.

The vehemence of the Blackburn defender's protests suggested he might have won the ball cleanly, but the referee, taking his final fixture before retiring was not for turning. Apostolakis scored emphatically from the spot, prompting a firework display inthe stands.

The clouds of coloured smoke had not cleared before Scotland had a chance to equalise. It dropped to John Collins, after Ferguson had headed down Tom Boyd's centre but Ilias Atmatsidis smothered the ball. Worryingly, Scotland's centre backs were being led a merry dance by Nikolaos Machlas, and Goram endured a series of uncomfortable scrapes.

One weaving diagonal run by Georgios Toursounidis took him past several Scots all apparently fearful of repeating Hendry's indiscretion. He lost his balance as he shaped to shoot, but Goram was immediately called on to save from Machlas.

No sooner had another mistake by Hendry set up a counter-attack early in the second half which ended with Goram stopping a booming drive by Toursounidis than Alan McLaren conceded possession and Goram was relieved to see the ensuing shot drift wide.

The realisation that Greece were playing for time mid-way through the second half sparked a renewed sense of urgency in Scotland. In the last minute, Spencer surged on to a pass from Gary McAllister and went down under pressure from Apostolakis. This ti m e, the referee ignored the appeals and Greece held out to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Hendry compared the decision against him with the one that cost Blackburn the services of Hennig Berg and possibly their match against Manchester United. "I definitely played the ball and I felt the Greek player should have been booked for diving," he said.

Craig Brown prefered to reserve judgement until he studies the video evidence, but said: "I have some very honest players and they feel strongly about the goal. But I think we're capable of evening the score when Greece come to Glasgow."

GREECE (1-4-3-2): Atmatsidis (AEK Athens); Zagorakis (PAOK Salonika); Apostolakis (Panathiniakos), Vlachos (AEK), Kalitzakis (Panathiniakos), Kasapis (AEK); Nioplias (Panathiniakos), Tsalouchidis (Olympiakos), Alexandris (Olympiakos); Machlas (OFI Crete), Toursounidis (PAOK). Substitutes: Karassavvidis (PAOK) for Nioplias, 89; Narangos (Panathanaikos) for Alexandris, 72.

SCOTLAND (4-1-3-2): Goram (Rangers); McKimmie (Aberdeen), McLaren (Rangers), Hendry (Blackburn), Boyd (Celtic); McCall (Rangers); McKinlay (Dundee United), McAllister (Leeds), Collins (Celtic); McGinlay (Bolton), Ferguson (Everton). Substitutes: Leighto n (Hibs) for Goram, 77; Spencer (Chelsea) for McKinlay, h-t.

Referee: J Blankenstein (Netherlands).