Greece vs Scotland LIVE: Result and reaction from Nations League relegation play-off first leg
Greece 0-1 Scotland: The visitors survived long spells of pressure to take a lead back to Hampden
Scotland survived an onslaught from Greece in Athens as Scott McTominay’s first-half penalty proved enough to take a one-goal lead back to Hampden in their Nations League relegation play-off.
A contentious penalty call went Scotland’s way and McTomimay picked himself up after colliding into Lazaros Rota in the box to calmly dispatch the spot-kick. Scotland deserved their lead at the break and could have doubled their lead, with Che Adams twice going close.
Greece dominated after the restart and the introduction of 17-year-old winger Konstantinos Karetsas led to waves of pressure. The teenager set up Christos Tzolis with an excellent cross but the forward hit the post from two yards as Scotland looked to hang on to their lead.
And Scotland survived another scare as Greece were awarded a late penalty, only for VAR to come to the rescue and overturn the decision as Grant Hanley was outside the box when he fouled.
Only England, Spain and Netherlands had won in Greece in the last two years, but Scotland join the list and take the advantage back to Glasgow as they look to maintain their top-tier status in the Nations League in the second leg on Sunday.
Follow reaction from the Nations League play-off between Scotland and Greece, below
Greece 0-1 Scotland
90+1 mins: Greece can do that all day. Zafeiris shoots from range but fires over.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
90 mins: Karetsas has been excellent since coming on but thankfully for Scotland his attempt from range is awful. Well wide.
Scotland will now pray for a generous amount of added time.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
89 mins; CHANCE! Karetsas finds Pavlidis but he heads over from two yards! Gordon would have been beaten there but Pavlidis can’t keep it down.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
87 mins: Pelkas, who has taken the armband, puts the free-kick into the wall!
NO PENALTY! Greece 0-1 Scotland
85 mins: It was outside! The decision has been changed to a free-kick! Scotland survive another one!
Still, a chance for Tsimikas.
PENALTY! Greece 0-1 Scotland
NOW IT’S GREECE WHO HAVE A PENALTY!
But will this be overturned! Hanley is outside the box when he makes his challenge!
The VAR check is underway.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
80 mins: Tsimikas finds Ioannidis with a cross from open play but the header is straight at Gordon, who really hasn’t been worked as much as Greece would have liked given their dominance in this second half.
It’s the striker’s last involvement and he is replaced by Fountas.
Greece 0-1 Scotland
79 mins: Scotland survive another couple of corners. Gordon then gets a grasp on the ball.
The Tartan Army find their voice.
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