Cyprus 1-2 Scotland: Goals by Ryan Christie and John McGinn hand the Tartan Army a hard-fought victory to help restore some confidence ahead of March Euro 2020 playoffs

  • Cyprus thought they took the lead thanks to a strike by Georgios Efrem
  • The goal was not given though despite the ball appearing to cross the line
  • Ryan Christie scored his first international goal just minutes later for Scotland
  • Efrem got his goal with a well taken volley early into the second half
  • Cyprus' lead didn't last long as John McGinn scored the winner for the visitors  

Steve Clarke remains desperately short of striking options but in John McGinn he suddenly has a prolific international goalscorer on his hands.

Aston Villa's all-action midfield man popped up with his fifth Scotland goal of the season to claim a result that lifted Scotland into third place in Group I and, more importantly, restored some confidence as the process of preparing for March's Euro 2020 play-offs continues.

McGinn had scored a hat-trick on his last Scotland outing against San Marino and, continuing in the advanced midfield role, he displayed a real poacher's instinct to steal across his marker and finish at the near post.

John McGinn continued his good scoring form for Scotland with a winner against Cyprus

John McGinn continued his good scoring form for Scotland with a winner against Cyprus

Ryan Christie, prolific for Celtic this season, weighed in with his first Scotland goal too but although the visitors carried a persistent threat through those running off veteran forward Steven Naismith, the result carried good fortune.


Cyprus scored one sumptuous goal through Georgios Efrem but the former Rangers squad player ought to have had another early in the match when his shot appeared to cross the line after bouncing down off the crossbar.

Clarke had endured a wretched build-up to this match, beset by call-offs to high-profile and key players. Captain Andy Robertson stayed in Liverpool to receive treatment on an ankle problem, while Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth also remained with their Premier League clubs.

Ryan Christie (left) celebrates after he opened the scoring against Cyprus with a curling effort

Ryan Christie (left) celebrates after he opened the scoring against Cyprus with a curling effort

The choice of who to lead the team was relatively simple. The return of Naismith following long-term injury was a badly needed boost for the team and, on the occasion of his 50th cap, the Hearts forward was a natural choice to lead from the front.

The absence of midfield anchors McTominay and Kenny McLean allowed Clarke to try out Rangers' in-form Ryan Jack at the base of the midfield.

The abundance of options in the middle of the pitch does not compensate for the deficiencies in both attack and central defence. For Motherwell's 28-year-old Declan Gallagher, this was a day for a debut alongside Scott McKenna and the duo's partnership caught a break as early as the fourth minute.

Some crafty midfield play from Fotis Papoulis cut Scotland open and when Efrem gathered inside the box he worked enough space to fire a shot high past David Marshall.

Cyprus players celebrate following Georgios Efrem scored with a stunning volley

Cyprus players celebrate following Georgios Efrem scored with a stunning volley 

MATCH FACTS 

Cyprus (3-5-2): Pardo, Demetriou, Karo (Kastanos 42), Merkis, Kousoulos, N Ioannou, Kosti, Papoulis, Kyriakou (Theodorou 77), Efrem (Spoljaric 72) Sotiriou

Substitutes not used: Zachariou, Avraam, Kissas, Wheeler, Artymatas, Christoforou, M Ioannou, Michael, Economides

Manager: Ran Ben Shimon

Scotland (4-2-3-1): Marshall, Taylor, McKenna, Gallagher, Palmer, Jack, McGregor, McGinn, Christie, Naismith (McBurnie 62), Forrest (Burke 71)

Substitutes not used: McLaughlin, Shinnie, Fleck, Devlin, Morgan, Armstrong, Shankland, MacGillivray, O'Donnell, Porteous

Manager:  Steve Clarke

Referee:  Harald Lechner (Austria)

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The ball cracked off the cross bar, ricocheted down and over the line before bouncing back into play.

Several Cypriot players celebrated but with no signal from his assistant, referee Harald Lechner let play carry on.

Scotland took full advantage. Christie had come close to a first international goal against San Marino at Hampden last month when his shot was turned in by a deft McGinn shot.

This time there was no counter claim on the goal - cutting in off the right, the Celtic man wrapped his left foot around the ball and sent it fizzing into the top corner from 20 yards.

Marshall had to pull off a smart save to his left from Sotiriou as the home team pushed for parity and later Ioannis Costi just couldn't sort his stance as Jason Demetriou fired a pass into his feet in the area.

Scotland had more of an edge to their play. 

With Jack probing and McGregor linking neatly with the forward players, chances were bound to come.

Christie and McKenna had efforts saved while Liam Palmer nearly pulled off the spectacular with a 25-yard drive that whistled wide with the aid of a deflection.

The cushion of another goal would have been handy going into the second half.

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn scored his fifth international goal to give Scotland the win

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn scored his fifth international goal to give Scotland the win

John McGinn battles with Cyprus' Georgios Efrem who provided the visitors many problems

John McGinn battles with Cyprus' Georgios Efrem who provided the visitors many problems

Cyprus equalised off a set-piece but the finish from Efrem was a dream. Gallagher made a reasonable fist of heading clear the in-swinging free-kick from the right but Efrem was alert, fixing his eyes on the ball as he reached back and pulled off a quite stunning volley into the far corner.

The small number of Cypriot fans in attendance lapped up the moment but Scotland were soon back in front.

The goal was made at Parkhead, principally by full-back Greg Taylor who has only featured once since signing for Neil Lennon in August yet rose to the challenge of filling Robertson's boots here.

Steven Naismith wore the captain's armband as he claimed his 50th international cap

Steven Naismith wore the captain's armband as he claimed his 50th international cap

The left-back started the move that swept though McGregor and Forrest before regaining possession and picking out McGinn's near-post run for a first-time finish.

Naismith didn't last much longer, falling awkwardly as he attempted to control a lively ball forward and without him there to maintain order, Scotland struggled to keep the ball away from danger.

Ioannis Costi came close to a second equaliser with a flying header and Cyprus kept pressing long after the regulation 90 minutes had expired.

Deep into stoppage-time Papoulis fired over and then substitute Georgia Kastanos' free-kick flew just over the bar. Scotland hung on.

Scotland's final Euro 2020 qualifier comes against Kazakhstan on Tuesday

Scotland's final Euro 2020 qualifier comes against Kazakhstan on Tuesday

Scotland are looking ahead to their Euro 2020 playoffs following their group stage failure

Scotland are looking ahead to their Euro 2020 playoffs following their group stage failure

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