Scotland 2-0 Spain: Scott McTominay hits brace in Euro 2024 qualifying
Super Scott McTominay was again the two-goal hero as Scotland stunned Spain with a sensational 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win at a delirious Hampden Park.
The Manchester United midfielder, who climbed off the bench to score twice to clinch the 3-0 home win against Cyprus on Saturday, struck again after seven minutes to shock the Spanish side and probably the Tartan Army too.
Angus Gunn’s goal survived a few scares in the first half as the Spanish reacted fiercely but McTominay grabbed a second six minutes after the restart to take Steve Clarke’s men top of Group A with six points from six.
It was a sobering evening for Luis de la Fuente, in his second game as Spain boss following the 3-0 win over Norway at the weekend.
However, it was a momentous result for Scotland – Spain last lost to the Scots in 1984 at Hampden Park – and it was helped further by the 1-1 draw between Norway and Georgia – June’s opponents – earlier in the day.
But what an occasion in Mount Florida.
Clarke had called for patience against the section’s top seeds and in looking for a positive result he made three changes with McTominay, fellow midfielder Ryan Christie and striker Lyndon Dykes coming in, the latter for the injured Che Adams.
By contrast, De la Fuente, who took over from Luis Enrique after a decade with Spain’s youth team, only kept three from the weekend.
Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, captain Rodri and midfield team-mate Mikel Merino kept their places with a first start for 33-year-old Espanyol striker Joselu, who grabbed a double against the Norwegians after making his debut off the bench.
The visitors, with just five defeats in their last 68 Euro qualifying games, were odds-on to leave Glasgow with three points but now find themselves with work to do.
Tottenham defender Pedro Porro looked in control of the ball close to the byline but slipped allowing Scotland captain Andy Robertson to cut the ball back for McTominay whose first-time finish ended up behind Kepa.
Spain were stung into a strident reply but left gaps and in the 15th minute Christie’s 50-yard run towards goal ended with him toe-poking a shot from the edge of the box just past the post.
Five minutes later, Gunn was called into action for the first time, saving a close-range header from Joselu who soon afterwards thumped a header against the bar from six yards in what was another let-off for Clarke’s side.
Robertson was booked for a barge on Porro, who seemed to make the most of the incident which enraged the home fans, before Rodri rose high to head a corner on to the roof of the net.
Gunn then made a fantastic fingertip save from Porro’s long-range drive and Yeremy Pino fired over following the corner, albeit Dykes lifed a shot over the bar just before the interval following a breakaway.
Hampden exploded in joy again early in the second half when left-back Kieran Tierney’s cross was half cleared to McTominay who swiftly returned the ball from 16 yards into the Spain net.
Midfielder John McGinn then struck the Spain bar with a free-kick from distance as the Tartan Army began to contemplate a famous victory.
Spain kept pushing and Scotland strained every sinew to keep them out.
In the 75th minute Kenny McLean and Liam Cooper came on to help Scotland withstand more pressure with Nathan Patterson, Lewis Ferguson and Lawrence Shankland also called upon to bolster the battling Scots, and after six added minutes the national stadium, witness to a remarkable night, roared at the final whistle.