Poland penalties inflict more pain on Scotland

Scotland suffered a hangover from their dismal Euro 2024 campaign as Nicola Zalewski‘s 96th minute penalty handed Poland a 3-2 win to kick off their Nations League campaign at Hampden.

Napoli‘s new Scots duo Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay struck in the second half to bring Steve Clarke’s men back on level terms.

But Poland were clinical as they netted with all three of their shots on target.

Sebastian Szymanski and Robert Lewandowski put the visitors in command before half-time and Roma‘s Zalewski sneaked his spot-kick under Angus Gunn deep into stoppage time.

Clarke resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes after taking just one point from three games at the Euros.

Murmurs of discontent with the manager were exacerbated by a nightmare start when Szymanski took aim from long range and fired in off the post just eight minutes in.

But Scotland rallied to push the Poles back and were unfortunate to see their first taste of top-tier action in the Nations League end in defeat.

McTominay thought he had levelled but the former Manchester United midfielder was adjudged to have handled before bundling in an Andy Robertson free-kick.

Instead, the story of Scotland’s night was of two rash challenges.

Anthony Ralston clipped Zalewski inside the area just before half-time and Barcelona‘s Lewandowski stroked home his fifth goal in five games for club and country this season.

The home side were given life just 20 seconds into the second period when Gilmour, who has never scored a goal in club football, fired in his second for his country.

Clarke finally introduced the fresh faces fans had called for in the final quarter as Liverpool teenager Ben Doak made his international debut and had an immediate impact.

Doak played in Ralston down the right and his low cross was swept in by McTominay for his ninth international goal in his last 16 caps.

Scotland went in hunt of completing the comeback but were hit with a sucker punch when Grant Hanley needlessly dived in to bring down Zalewski.

The 22-year-old took responsibility with Lewandowski off the field and got a lucky break as Gunn got a hand to his penalty but could not keep it out.

Defeat extends Scotland’s miserable run of form to one win in 13 games and with a daunting trip to Lisbon to face Portugal, who beat Croatia 2-1 in the other match in Group A1, to come on Sunday.

kca/ea