Scotland 2-2 England

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Scotland 2-2 England: All square in WC qualifier (June 10 2017)


Captain Harry Kane earned England a point in stoppage time after a stunning late Leigh Griffiths double looked like giving Scotland a memorable victory at Hampden.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had given England the lead in the 70th minute after some poor Scotland defending, but Griffiths picked the perfect moment to break his international duck in his 13th cap.

The Celtic player curled 25-yard free-kicks into either corner of Joe Hart's net within three minutes, the second in the final minute of the 90.

However, Kane netted from close range three minutes into time added on to seal a 2-2 draw and maintain England's eight-year unbeaten run in qualifying matches as they stayed on course for a place in Russia.

Home skipper Scott Brown had set the tone for an unforgettable World Cup qualifier inside three minutes as he introduced himself to Dele Alli with a late challenge which earned a yellow card, and Scotland continued their aggressive start by forcing four early corners.

With a significant height disadvantage, they could not threaten directly from any and Joe Hart was fully behind Griffiths' dipping strike after one delivery ultimately broke to the forward outside the area.

Scotland were playing with a three-man central defence - all left-footed, including Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney - but wing-backs Ikechi Anya and Andrew Robertson were pegged back for much of the first half as Griffiths grew increasingly isolated.

Kane got two sights of goal when the visitors managed to penetrate. However, he blazed over after only partially bringing down Alli's lofted pass and then failed to make the most of Adam Lallana's cutback.

England looked more dangerous on the rare occasions they got their opponents turning and Kane had another half chance, with Craig Gordon stranded after coming out of box to head away a long ball.

Tierney headed his long-range chip off the line but Robertson's slip allowed Marcus Rashford a good chance. The Scotland goalkeeper recovered though to turn the shot wide with his foot.

Gordon made two more saves before half-time, pushing efforts from Lallana and surprise starter Jake Livermore off target.

Livermore hit the post five minutes into the half after his shot took a heavy deflection off Robertson and Scotland, with James McArthur on for the injured James Morrison, survived some nervous seconds before the ball was finally safe.

Griffiths set up a great chance when he held the ball up and picked out Robertson 18 yards out. The Hull player had time to take a touch but sliced over.

Griffiths soon set up Stuart Armstrong further out but his club-mate's chip was too high.

The home fans turned up the volume as Scotland pressed deep in the opposition half and Kyle Walker took his time with a throw-in as England regained their composure.

Both sides made changes in the 65th minute. England brought on Oxlade-Chamberlain for Rashford while Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser made his Scotland debut.

Gordon soon made a decent stop from Kane's header but the Scotland goalkeeper failed to control Tierney's pass back and the visitors scored from the resulting throw-in after he scrambled the ball out under pressure.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had his back to goal outside the box but turned and rode Brown's challenge and got space to shoot from 15 yards after Armstrong ran into Tierney. The effort was straight at Gordon but the keeper could only flap at it and help it into the net.

Brown soon avoided a second yellow card for a late challenge on Alli and Lallana missed two chances to settle matters, heading over and having an effort saved.

Griffiths was well wide with a couple of efforts but he soon found his range in sensational fashion, with two free-kicks putting Scotland in the driving seat.

England were given a chance from closer in but Gordon looked to have averted the danger as he pushed Eric Dier's free-kick away. However, Scotland gave the ball away and it was soon returned into the box by substitute Raheem Sterling, whose ball found Kane unmarked to cushion a volley home.

Match reaction


England manager Gareth Southgate on Harry Kane's equaliser: "It's a huge moment for the team. The questions around this centre on character, on the ability to withstand events that go against you. That's what we have got to show - we have to be a team that are never beaten. Maybe the clock runs out but you never ever stop.

"We did that and it was a real quality finish under pressure to get the point."

Southgate on falling behind to two free-kicks: "We deserved to be ahead and then there was a mad minute and a half. There was a free-kick we shouldn't concede and then two moments of real quality from Griffiths. Great credit to him, under pressure he delivers two outstanding technical finishes.

"Then, most importantly for me, heading into injury-time 2-1 down, I don't see anyone sink to their knees, I don't see anyone hit the floor. I see body language which says we are still in the game.

"Overall the objective is to qualify and we are top of the group. We wanted to come here and win, but given the narrative of the game we have got to be pleased in the end to take a point."

Southgate on the importance of the goal for Kane: "I have a feeling I might have been sitting here talking about how long it was since he last scored for England if he hadn't scored it.

"It was brilliant for him that in a pressure moment he executed a skill that he made look easier than it actually was."

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan on how his team performed: "It was one of the most emotional games in my managerial career. As a player you just get on with it but as a manager that was hard work.

"It was like watching a heavyweight boxer against a middleweight. These guys are giants, they play at a different level to most of us, and they kept coming back. Their strength and power was hard to deal with, and we did it. And they keep coming back again.

"Whatever anybody thinks about us as a group of players, one thing you can't question is their personality, character and commitment.

"That was beyond the call of duty at times because nobody, nobody in here or any supporter knows how hard it is to play against these players on a day like that. The power and strength and speed of England is phenomenal.

"And that's what was so good about Griff, to put the work he put in, and then to have a free-kick when you are tired at the end of the game and be able to execute it, was phenomenal. He's a great character, you know. A wonderful character. Strange, but wonderful."

Strachan on the goals from Leigh Griffiths: "I saw Scotland's best ever free-kick and then I see Scotland's second-best free-kick, and then I have a noise that I have never heard anything like before.

"I think we had three down with cramp as well. You don't often see that. They pushed themselves to another level to get a result for this country."

On the end of the game and England's equaliser: "I can't be annoyed. It's annoying for them to do so much and have a result that could have been one of the best results ever. One pass, one header goes somewhere else and we win the game.

"You try to protect yourself from the excitement but when we equalised I didn't, because that could have been my best result as a manger."