Greece 3-2 Scotland: World Cup hopes alive after Denmark draw with Belarus

Scotland’s World Cup hopes are in their own hands despite a defeat to Greece, with a win over Denmark on Tuesday guaranteeing a place at next year’s finals in North America.

A second-half fightback courtesy of goals from Ben Gannon Doak and Ryan Christie wasn’t enough to prevent a 3-2 defeat for Steve Clarke’s side but Belarus’ shock 2-2 draw in Copenhagen has kept hope alive and set up a huge final group game at Hampden.

The national team had gone into the game at Karaiskakis Stadium level on points with group leaders Denmark but behind on goal difference. A draw in Athens, assuming Denmark beat group minnows Belarus, would set up an all-or-nothing clash with the Danes at Hampden on Tuesday, with automatic qualification the prize.

Scotland had won in Athens in the Nations League earlier this year but suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat in the return game in Glasgow in March. When the teams met at Hampden last month, the visitors went ahead before Scotland bounced back for a 3-1 victory.

Clarke and his players weren’t going into the unknown but they still seemed stunned by the Greeks’ attack from the start.

After just seven minutes, a mistake from John Souttar allowed Vangelis Pavlidis to shoot and though Craig Gordon saved brilliantly, Tasos Bakasetas pounced on the rebound and fired it low into the bottom corner.

Scotland couldn’t muster a response and the hosts had wave after wave of attack, managing half a dozen shots on target in the first half hour. The visitors didn’t have a chance until the 34th minute, when they forced a corner after a cross was blocked just ahead of Che Adams.

With half time approaching, there was a glimmer of hope when Scott McTominay’s sidefoot shot from the edge of the box came crashing back off the bar. Moments later Adams’ back post header found the side netting.

Just before the break, Gannon Doak had a golden opportunity. Through on goal the young winger should have scored but saw his shot saved.

After the break, Scotland were back on the front foot and had a spell of good possession, with Christie bursting through on one occasion and squaring for Adams who saw two efforts blocked.

Though Scotland weren’t taking their chances, Greece soon showed a clinical edge. After 57 minutes Konstantinos Karetsas collected from Andrews Tetteh and fired an unstoppable finish past Gordon.

Six minutes later, Greece looked out of sight when Christos Tzolis hit a powerful effort that Gordon couldn’t stop to make it 3-0.

As news filtered through that Belarus had drawn level with Denmark, Scotland had a lifeline. John McGinn crossed from the left and Gannon Doak finished confidently for his first international goal.

With 20 minutes left, Scotland made it 3-2. Andy Robertson was the provider this time and Christie found space to head in his side’s second.

The tide had fully turned and Bakasetas’ dismissal for a second yellow card increased hopes. But despite throwing everything forward at times, Scotland could not get the equaliser and remained on the field at the final whistle awaiting new questions of the final score in Copenhagen, where Denmark and Belarus were locked at 2-2.

Confirmation of that final score meant the task for the remaining group game became clear-cut. Win and Scotland qualify automatically for North America; draw or lose and a play-off path awaits where the team would need to win two games to end their long exile from the World Cup finals.