John McGinn came off the bench to score a late winner as Scotland boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from Nations League A with victory over 10-man Croatia.
The Aston Villa midfielder was surprisingly left out of the starting XI but made a match-winning contribution four minutes from full-time, capitalising on brilliant work from the impressive Ben Doak.
Scotland can now avoid bottom spot in Group 1 with a win in Poland on Monday, although hopes of a second-placed finish and a more favourable World Cup draw are fading. They must beat Poland and hope Croatia lose to Portugal to stand any chance.
FULL TIME: Scotland 1-0 Croatia.
Super John McGinn wins it late on at Hampden Park 🦸‍♂️#SCOCRO pic.twitter.com/e5DOuwDi9i
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 15, 2024
Croatia out of luck
The result was arguably harsh on a Croatia side that looked in a different class until referee Orel Grinfeeld decided to dish out a second yellow to Petar Sucic just before half-time.
Even then the visitors had chances to win it in the second half but were let down by poor finishing.
Scotland appeared nervous in the opening stages and Croatia could have gone ahead twice inside the first 10 minutes.
First Luca Sucic shot wastefully over the bar at the far post after Mateo Kovacic stole possession off Billy Gilmour in the centre of the field.
Then Scotland were indebted to Craig Gordon’s lanky frame as the 41-year-old somehow managed to get a toe on Andrej Kramaric’s shot at his near post with the ball clipping the outside of the post on its way wide.
Scotland were being starved of possession with Kovacic and the evergreen Luka Modric dominating the ball in midfield.
It took the hosts 18 minutes to create anything as an attacking force and it almost led to another international goal for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay.
Doak got down the right and his pass was perfect for McTominay to get his shot away but it was straight at Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.
Sucic sees red
Petar Sucic’s first yellow came for a foul on Gilmour on the half-hour mark and the Dinamo Zagreb midfielder clearly hadn’t learned his lesson as he then barged needlessly into John Souttar on the halfway line, albeit contact appeared minimal, and was dismissed two minutes before the break.
The sending-off changed the game and rather than bossing the ball, Croatia were happier to sit deep and allow Scotland to dictate.
The hosts failed to test Kotarski, though.
Gilmour twice shot over when well placed while Doak volleyed high and wide at the far post after good work down the left by substitute Ryan Gauld.
Pasalic fluffs his moment
Indeed, it was the 10 men of Croatia who had the better chances. Ivan Perisic fired wide after Andy Robertson got stuck under a cross before a wonderful pass from Modric put Mario Pasalic clean through but he toe-poked his shot horribly wide of Gordon’s left-hand post.
Croatia would come to rue those misses as McGinn finally capitalised on more excellent work from Doak.
The winger had given Josko Gvardiol a torrid night and from another of his crosses Scotland finally scored.
The centre was palmed clear by Kotarski and McGinn ran onto it and struck the ball sweetly on the half-volley into the net.