By Thomas Durning
Scott sends Scotland top of the group.
It was an historic night at Hampden park as a Scott McTominay double was enough for Scotland to defeat Spain 2-0 which gives Scotland the perfect start to the group stage.
Scotland made three changes to the side that defeated Cyprus last time out with Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Jack, and Che Adams coming out of the team and they were replaced by Ryan Christie, Scott McTominay, and Lyndon Dykes.
Spain made nine changes to the side that defeated Norway last time out with Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Balde, Iago Aspas, Gavi, Alvaro Morata, and Dani Olmo coming out of the team and they were replaced by Pedro Porro, David Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Jose Gaya, Dani Ceballos, Mikel Oyarzabal, Joselu, and Yeremy respectively.
It was a lively competitive start at Hampden as the home fans were making a lot of noise in the hope that this could help Scotland achieve a result.
This lively start helped Scotland and, in the 7th, minute the hosts took an early lead. After a slip by Spain full back Pedro Porro in his own box, Andy Robertson was able to capitalise on it and the Scotland captain cut the ball back to Scott McTominay who hammered the ball into the back of the net.
It was a nervous start from the Spanish side and in the 15th minute they could have been two down as midfielder Ryan Christie was able to make a darting run through the Spanish midfield but his shot from just outside the box went just wide of the right post.
This seemed to wake the Spanish side up and in the 20th minute they had there first chance of the game after a cross from the left hand side was met by striker Joselu but his header was well caught by Angus Gunn.
Three minutes later the away side hit the woodwork as again another cross this time from the right hand side was met by Joselu but his header crashed off the bar and the ball was cleared to safety. Spain was starting to get a grip on the game.
The confidence from the away side was starting to grow and in the 29th minute, Rodri sent a header just over the bar from a corner and a few moments later, Pedro Porro had space down the right hand side and unleashed a shot which was well saved by Gunn.
The home side had to hold firm during this mounted pressure from Spain, but Scotland remained solid throughout this constant pressure and slowly managed to get themselves up the pitch.
In the 47th minute, Scotland had a golden chance to make it two when Andy Robertson played the ball up the pitch which was met by striker Lyndon Dykes who went through one on one with Spain keeper Kepa but Dykes sent his shot over the bar.
This was to be the last action of the half and Scotland would go into half time delighted with their lead and Spain would be disappointed that they had not created enough chances despite dominating the ball.
The second half got underway and Spain made changes in the hope they could get back in the game and there was also a change of referee when Sandro Scharer swapped roles with Lukas Fahndrich who came on to referee the second half.
There was an early chance for Spain in the second half when after a period of keeping the ball, midfielder Rodri hit a left footed shot from just outside the box but his effort was low and Gunn was able to pick the ball up safely.
It looked like Spain were going to dominate the early stages of the second half however in the 51st minute the night got even better for Scotland who doubled there lead. After Scotland won the ball back in there own half, Kieran Tierney decided to go on a darting run down the left hand side and as he sped away from Carvajal, he crossed the ball which was half cleared by the Spanish defence but this wasn’t enough as McTominay arrived in the box and unleashed a left footed volley which went past Kepa at the near post.
Once again this shocked the Spanish side who were now starting to get even more frustrated which resulted in the match getting a little more feisty with a lot of tackles flying in from both sides.
It could have been three for Scotland after the second goal as the hosts won a free kick from the right hand side which McGinn took but his shot hit the crossbar and Spain managed to get the ball away.
The last twenty minutes of the match the ball was dominated by Spain as Scotland decided to sit on there two goal lead and invite Spain to try and break them down.
This plan from Scotland worked as although they dominated the ball, Spain did not manage to create any clear cut chances and after substitutions and some solid defending by Scotland, the referee blew the whistle for full time which meant that Scotland had defeated Spain for the first time since 1984.
Scotland: Gunn, Hickey (Patterson 82’) Porteous, Hanley, Tierney (Cooper 76’) Robertson, McTominay, McGregor, McGinn (Ferguson 83’) Christie(McLean 75’) Dykes (Shankland 89’)
Subs not used: Brown, Kelly, Clark, Armstrong, Hyam, Jack, Gilmour
Spain: Kepa, Porro (Carvajal 45’) Garcia, Martinez, Gaya, Rodri, Merino (Aspas 57’) Ceballos (Gavi 79’) Yeremy, Joselu (Iglesias 66’) Oyarzabal (Williams 45’)
Subs not used: Sanchez, Morata, Ruiz, Nacho, Raya, Zubimendi, Laporte
Referee: Sandro Scharer (first half)
Lukas Fahndrich (second half)
Reporter: Thomas Durning
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