Moldova 0-2 Scotland: Nathan Patterson and Che Adams goals clinch Qatar 2022 play-off spot

Seasoned Scotland supporters had experienced a sense of foreboding in the build up to their penultimate Qatar 2022 qualifier here in Chisinau tonight.

The national team have squandered chances to reach the finals of major tournaments by slumping to draws and defeats to lesser opponents away from home on numerous occasions during the past two decades.

Could they, with a place in the play-offs tantalisingly within their grasp, get the victory they required against rivals who are languishing in 181st place in the FIFA World Rankings and avoid another sorry slip up?

Those Tartan Army footsoldiers who could remember the humiliations against Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and, well, Moldova last time around had travelled to eastern Europe in hope not expectation. 

Yet, Steve Clarke had promised those sort of failures were in the past on the eve of the match in the Zimbru Stadium and he was proved correct; his men extended their winning run to five games thanks to goals from Nathan Patterson in the first-half and Che Adams in the second and secured second place in Group F.

Scotland will feature in a World Cup play-off match for the first time since they overcame Australia in a double header way back in 1985 when Sir Alex Ferguson was in temporary charge next March.

Andy Robertson and his compatriots, who overcame Israel and Serbia on penalties last year to reach the Euro 2020 finals, showed again last night they have the mentality needed to handle such occasions. They will go into those matches with confidence.

Clarke was missing Lyndon Dykes, who became the first man to score in four consecutive Scotland games since Colin Stein in 1969 when he netted a late winner against the Faroe Islands last month, up front due to suspension.

He could have handed a start to Jacob Brown, Kevin Nisbet or David Turnbull in Dykes’ absence. But he opted for experience instead and brought in Stuart Armstrong just behind lone striker Adams in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Meanwhile, Liam Cooper was given the nod to play in between Jack Hendry and Kieran Tierney in defence after Grant Hanley and Scott McTominay were ruled out by injury and illness.  

Adams put, much to the delight of a large and vocal travelling support, the ball in the Moldovan net in just the third minute. But he was offside when John McGinn touched it on to him and the score remained level.  

When Artur Ionita flashed a shot just past the right post after being sent through on the Scotland goal by Radu Ginsari moments later it was a reminder that nothing could be taken for granted.

But the away side quickly took control of proceedings. They dominated possession, played with an impressive tempo and broke upfield in numbers. Only Stanislav Namasco, the Moldova goalkeeper, kept the hosts in it. He denied Billy Gilmour, Armstrong and Robertson brilliantly as Scotland laid siege to his goal.

Namasco’s opposite number Craig Gordon, though, was called upon to make an important save in the 22nd minute when Ionita got on the end of a Ioan-Calin Revenco cross from wide on the right flank. The Hearts man palmed the midfielder’s header over his crossbar.

A well-worked Scotland attack eight minutes before half-time finally broke the deadlock and eased the tension that was building inside the stadium. Patterson cut in to the penalty box from the right and McGinn laid the ball off to him. The wing back took a touch before rifling a left foot shot through the legs of Veaceslav Posmac and into the bottom left corner.

There was an interminable wait as German video assistant referee Marco Fritz checked to see if McGinn had been in an offside position when he was supplied by Callum McGregor. But he wasn’t and the goal was allowed to stand.

It was the 20-year-old’s first international goal. There are sure to be many more in the years to come. The defender has been nothing short of a revelation during this campaign. His displays have been remarkable given how little game time he has had at Rangers this term.

Adams should have done far better when McGinn chipped the ball to him in the Moldova six yard box at the start of the second-half. He could have headed or volleyed the delivery and put Scotland two ahead. He did neither.

The forward, though, atoned for that spurned opportunity in the 65th minute when he added his name to the scoresheet. McGinn backheeled through the legs of substitute Artiom Rozgoniuc and Patterson burst forward before squaring to Adams at the far post. His team mate made no mistake. It was his third strike for his adopted homeland.

That was the cue for the away fans to go into full party mode. Saltires from Ayr, Cyprus, Livingston, Moffat, Perth and Warrington were draped around the stands. Those who had brought them did not have a wasted journey on this occasion. They enjoyed the 90 minutes to the full.     

Adams pounced when Namasco fumbled a McGregor shot at his feet eight minutes later. But once again he was adjudged to have been offside. He was soon joined by Kevin Nisbet when Armstrong was substituted by Clarke.   

Scotland never do anything the easy way and when Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded Moldova a penalty with eight minutes remaining after looking at a replay on a pitchside monitor and seeing that Patterson had handled inside his area their followers feared the worst.

But Gordon guessed that Vadim Rata was going to shoot to his right and maintained his side’s two goal advantage. Clarke immediately threw on Brown for Adams and Kenny McLean for Gilmour. David Turnbull took over from McGinn late on and helped see out the win.  

THEY think it’s Moldova . . . and it is now!

Seasoned Scotland supporters had experienced a sense of foreboding in the build up to their penultimate Qatar 2022 qualifier here in Chisinau tonight.

The national team have squandered chances to reach the finals of major tournaments by slumping to draws and defeats to lesser opponents away from home on numerous occasions during the past two decades.

Could they, with a place in the play-offs tantalisingly within their grasp, get the victory they required against rivals who are languishing in 181st place in the FIFA World Rankings and avoid another sorry slip up?

Those Tartan Army footsoldiers who could remember the humiliations against Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and, well, Moldova last time around had travelled to eastern Europe in hope not expectation. 

Yet, Steve Clarke had promised those sort of failures were in the past on the eve of the match in the Zimbru Stadium and he was proved correct; his men extended their winning run to five games thanks to goals from Nathan Patterson in the first-half and Che Adams in the second, secured second place in Group F.

Scotland will feature in a World Cup play-off match for the first time since they overcame Australia in a double header way back in 1985 when Sir Alex Ferguson was in temporary charge next March.

Andy Robertson and his compatriots, who overcame Israel and Serbia on penalties last year to reach the Euro 2020 finals, showed again last night they have the mentality needed to handle such occasions. They will go into those matches with confidence.

Clarke was missing Lyndon Dykes, who became the first man to score in four consecutive Scotland games since Colin Stein in 1969 when he netted a late winner against the Faroe Islands last month, up front due to suspension.

He could have handed a start to Jacob Brown, Kevin Nisbet or David Turnbull in Dykes’ absence. But he opted for experience instead and brought in Stuart Armstrong just behind lone striker Adams in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Meanwhile, Liam Cooper was given the nod to play in between Jack Hendry and Kieran Tierney in defence after Grant Hanley and Scott McTominay were ruled out by injury and illness.  

Adams put, much to the delight of a large and vocal travelling support, the ball in the Moldovan net in just the third minute. But he was offside when John McGinn touched it on to him and the score remained level.  

When Artur Ionita flashed a shot just past the right post after being sent through on the Scotland goal by Radu Ginsari moments later it was a reminder that nothing could be taken for granted.

But the away side quickly took control of proceedings. They dominated possession, played with an impressive tempo and broke upfield in numbers. Only Stanislav Namasco, the Moldova goalkeeper, kept the hosts in it. He denied Billy Gilmour, Armstrong and Robertson brilliantly as Scotland laid siege to his goal.

Namasco’s opposite number Craig Gordon, though, was called upon to make an important save in the 22nd minute when Ionita got on the end of a Ioan-Calin Revenco cross from wide on the right flank. The Hearts man palmed the midfielder’s header over his crossbar.

A well-worked Scotland attack eight minutes before half-time finally broke the deadlock and eased the tension that was building inside the stadium. Patterson cut in to the penalty box from the right and McGinn laid the ball off to him. The wing back took a touch before rifling a left foot shot through the legs of Veaceslav Posmac and into the bottom left corner.

There was an interminable wait as German video assistant referee Marco Fritz checked to see if McGinn had been in an offside position when he was supplied by Callum McGregor. But he wasn’t and the goal was allowed to stand.

It was the 20-year-old’s first international goal. There are sure to be many more in the years to come. The defender has been nothing short of a revelation during this campaign. His displays have been remarkable given how little game time he has had at Rangers this term.

Adams should have done far better when McGinn chipped the ball to him in the Moldova six yard box at the start of the second-half. He could have headed or volleyed the delivery and put Scotland two ahead. He did neither.

The forward, though, atoned for that spurned opportunity in the 65th minute when he added his name to the scoresheet. McGinn backheeled through the legs of substitute Artiom Rozgoniuc and Patterson burst forward before squaring to Adams at the far post. His team mate made no mistake. It was his third strike for his adopted homeland.

That was the cue for the away fans to go into full party mode. Saltires from Ayr, Cyprus, Livingston, Moffat, Perth and Warrington were draped around the stands. Those who had brought them did not have a wasted journey on this occasion. They enjoyed the 90 minutes to the full.     

Adams pounced when Namasco fumbled a McGregor shot at his feet eight minutes later. But once again he was adjudged to have been offside. He was soon joined by Kevin Nisbet when Armstrong was substituted by Clarke.   

Scotland never do anything the easy way and when Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded Moldova a penalty with eight minutes remaining after looking at a replay on a pitchside monitor and seeing that Patterson had handled inside his area their followers feared the worst.

But Gordon guessed that Vadim Rata was going to shoot to his right and maintained his side’s two goal advantage. Clarke immediately threw on Brown for Adams and Kenny McLean for Gilmour. David Turnbull took over from McGinn late on and helped see out the win.