SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Thursday, March 27
Upcoming predictions and previews
SN
Slovenia national football team
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Oct 8, 2017 at 5pm UK
 
SN
Scotland national football team

2-2

Bezjak (52', 72')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Griffiths (32'), Snodgrass (88')

Scotland miss out on World Cup playoffs after draw in Slovenia

:Headline: Result: Scotland miss out on World Cup playoffs after draw in Slovenia: ID:309095: from db_amp
Scotland miss out on the World Cup playoffs on goal difference following a 2-2 draw with Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Result: Scotland finish third in Group F

Scotland have missed out on second place in their World Cup qualifying group on goal difference following a 2-2 draw with Slovenia in Ljubljana.

The hosts were quick out of the starting blocks as Josip Ilicic tested Craig Gordon with an early drive, but the Scotland keeper was equal to the task.

Gordon Strachan's side managed to weather the early pressure from Slovenia and, 32 minutes into the game, took the lead through Leigh Griffiths, who connected with Darren Fletcher's looping header into the box to rifle beyond Jan Oblak.

Scotland held on to their one-goal advantage going into the break but, just five minutes after the restart, Slovenia drew level, as a cross whipped into the box saw substitute Roman Bezjak head the ball past Gordon.

From then on, the visitors wilted under a barrage of Slovenian pressure and, in the 71st minute, Srecko Katanec's charges edged into the lead through Bezjak's second of the game, the 28-year-old making the most of a lacklustre defence to slot home following a corner kick.

Scotland mounted a late fightback and, with two minutes left of the game, a ball over the top found its way to Robert Snodgrass and was hooked high into the net beyond Oblak to give the Tartan Army a fighting chance.

There was yet time for more drama in the game as Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar was sent off for two bookings in quick succession, but unfortunately for Scotland, they could not find a winner.

The result, combined with Slovakia's 3-0 win over Malta, means that Scotland finish their campaign in third place on 18 points, the same as Jan Kozak's charges, but with an inferior goal difference.

amp_article__309095 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2017-10-13 21:21:55:
html db last update - 2017-10-13 21:21:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .