Dykes relieved VAR saved his crucial Scotland equaliser

Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes admitted his relief that VAR was called into action to allow his crucial equaliser against Israel to stand.

Scotland were trailing 2-1 to Israel when Dykes struck, with the national team going on to score a late winner and secure a vital World Cup qualifying win.

The forward had met an Andy Robertson cross and fired it past Ofir Marciano but referee Szymon Marciniak initially disallowed the goal for what he thought was a foul on defender Ofri Arad, who had tried to win the ball with his head.

After protests and disagreements between the opposing sides, Marciniak then went to a pitchside monitor and gave the goal.

“I knew I didn’t touch his face and I knew it wasn’t a foul,” Dykes told STV. “I was hoping VAR looked at it and gave me the goal because the referee was adamant it was a free kick.

“I’m glad he went and saw the monitor because I knew I didn’t touch his face.

“I was just happy to get the goal because it got us back in the game. From there I thought we were dominant in the game.”

The decision brought extra relief to the forward after he had passed up an earlier chance to bring Scotland level, hitting a weak penalty that was easily stopped by Marciano just before half-time.

“It wasn’t the penalty that I wanted to take but it happens,” he said. “I just put my head down, got the goal back for the boys, put us back in the game and worked hard.

“It happens in football and the next one will smash the back of the net.”