Scotland faced a bitter defeat against Poland, losing 3-2 in their Nations League opener, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty that left the team empty-handed.
Having returned to action after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, Steve Clarke’s side aimed to make a strong statement. However, Poland struck first when Sebastian Szymanski capitalized on a defensive error to score in the 6th minute. Robert Lewandowski then extended Poland’s lead with a penalty after Scott McTominay’s equalizing goal was ruled out by VAR for handball.
Despite trailing 2-0, Scotland fought back after the halftime break. Billy Gilmour scored shortly after the restart, smashing a low shot into the net, igniting hope for the home side. Scott McTominay managed to level the score in the 80th minute, finding the net with a tidy finish from a setup by debutant Ben Doak.
However, the joy was short-lived. In the dying moments of the match, Grant Hanley brought down Nicola Zalewski in the box, leading to a penalty for Poland. Zalewski converted the penalty, sealing the win for the visitors as the Tartan Army was left in disbelief.
Clarke Reflects on Costly Mistakes
Scotland manager Steve Clarke lamented the errors that led to the team’s downfall: “If you make mistakes at this level, you get punished. We dealt with Poland’s system well for the most part, but small mistakes cost us. I’m pleased with the team’s performance but disappointed by the result.”
Clarke also praised the impact of his substitutes, particularly Doak and Ryan Gauld, who brought energy to the game. “We’ve got to keep working hard and ask the players to minimize those errors,” he stated.
Despite the defeat, Clarke highlighted positive aspects of their performance and expressed disappointment for the players, feeling they deserved at least a point from the match.
Credit: Sky Sports
