SCOTLAND are one step closer towards qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1998.
It was far from pretty or convincing, but the Tartan Army have set up a date with destiny against Serbia next month after beating Israel.
The Scotland players celebrate after reaching the Euro playoffs finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Scotland won their first-ever penalty shootout after a stalemate against IsraelCredit: Reuters
The nervy Uefa Nations League play-off semi-final went the distance all the way to penalties after a dour 120-minutes.
And it was Norwich ace Kenny McLean who scored the winning penalty.
The Scots scored all their pens, with the away side only scoring three.
Steve Clarke’s side lined up with two up front for the first time, with Oli McBurnie coming in to partner Lyndon Dykes.
But the two simply failed to strike up an effective relationship and the attacking move proved to have little impact on the match.
Scotland huffed and puffed for much of the cagey affair. Clear-cut chances were few and far between for both sides, though.
Manchester United ace Scott McTominay really ought to have scored in the first half though after missing a sitter.
Manager Steve Clarke will now prepare his side to take on Serbia as they eye a first major finals since 1998Credit: Reuters
Lawrence Shankland scored from the spot as Scotland netted five from fiveCredit: PA:Press Association
A cross from a corner on the right came into the box – but the unmarked midfielder failed to find the target and flashed wide.
As the game wore on, it looked as though the Scots would look to regret that guilt-edge chance.
The pace of the play was laboured from both teams, with not a lot of quality on show considering the level of players on the pitch.
That was highlighted further when the referee blew the whistle on regular time and the game crawled into 30 additional minutes.
Weissman missed sitter for the away side too with a little over five minutes of the contest remaining, letting Scotland off big time.
Cooper then dramatically hit the post with a header from an Andy Robertson corner in the last few seconds of extra time.
The game had to be decided by spot kicks, with nothing else left to separate the teams.
Manager Steve Clarke will certainly be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Anti-Israel protest forms outside Hampden prior to Scotland’s crunch play-off clash
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
