IT WAS as low-key a farewell jamboree as Scotland could’ve had.
And Steve Clarke saw his hopes of breaking his friendly duck as Scotland manager dashed as Finland came from two down to snatch a Hampden draw.
It was Clarke’s 55th game as international boss – and as his side overcome a stuttering first-half to sweep into a two-goal lead, it looked like he was going to finally record a home friendly victory.
Scotland last won a challenge match on Scottish soil eight years, nine games and three managers ago.
March 29 2016, to be precise – a stuffy 1-0 win over Denmark under Gordon Strachan, thanks to a Matt Ritchie winner on what was John McGinn’s Scotland debut.
Since then Malky Mackay, Alex McLeish and Clarke have all tried to secure wins in challenge games watched by packed houses and half-full stadia alike.
Even the normally unflappable Clarke said last month that Scotland were s***e at friendlies.
And the opening 45 minutes last night continued that trend.
Scotland passed the ball to no threatening effect whatsoever. Finland, with little possession, had the better chances.
But after the interval they got a break when central defender Arttu Hoskonen turned Andy Robertson’s cross into his own net to break the deadlock.
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Lawrence Shankland’s 33rd goal of a prolific season doubled the lead.
But Ben Kallman – who’d a brief spell at Dundee six seasons ago – pulled one back for the visitors and sub keeper Craig Gordon conceded a penalty which saw Oliver Antman level.
Questions, obviously, remain for the manager as the clock ticks down to Germany in Munich on Friday.
Does Ryan Porteous come back into the defence? Will it be Shankland or Che Adams up front?
And what’s to be done about the problematic right wing-back position?
On that score, neither Ross McCrorie in Gibraltar nor Tony Ralston last night did much to make themselves undroppable.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Clarke had a curveball up his sleeve for that opener in six days’ time – maybe someone out of position to occupy that slot?
Those are the things Clarke has to ponder at home before they arrive in Germany tomorrow night.
He’ll not have learned much during this low-key encounter.
In the early moments, Casper Terho saw his early shot blocked, with ex-Celt Teemu Pukki – Finland’s all-time top scorer, winning his 122nd cap – had his header saved as the visitors sought an early breakthrough.
Ryan Christie wriggled past Matti Peltola on the right but his low cross was clattered clear by the Finnish defence.
McGinn chipped over the top but Finland continued to probe, and when backtracking Hanley lost the flight of a forward pass, Hampden held its breath as Pukki lofted the opportunity over.
Shankland, firing over from the edge of the box, was next to try his luck.
But the only time the home support perked into life came when Arttu Hoskonen’s backpass had keeper Jesse Joronen stretching.
It was 32 minutes before Scotland forced their first corner.
Finland, with little possession, were nevertheless getting forward briskly when they did have the ball. Terho cut inside and fired in another low drive, which Gunn gathered comfortably.
Steve Clarke’s side had failed to register an effort on target in the opening half-hour and although Christie finally changed that when he escaped the clutches of Leo Vaisanen, his left-foot drive was easily saved.
John McGinn had contributed little but he found room on the left and picked out the advancing Billy Gilmour – but groans rang round Hampden as the Brighton man tried a first-time pass into a crowded Finland box rather than testing their keeper. It was easily snuffed out.
Scotland needed something to spark a subdued crowd into life and inside two minutes of the re-start they got it.
Gilmour latched on to possession on the edge of the box and drove for goal – but Finland’s sub keeper Viljami Sinisalo pushed his left-foot shot wide of the target.
However it was at least an attacking foray – and six minutes later Scotland got a slice of luck to break the deadlock.
Skipper Andy Robertson’s low cross didn’t look like it was going to bring any more dividends than any of the previous balls he’d sent into the Finnish box.
But Cracovia defender Arttu Hoskonen stuck out his right foot and sent the ball spinning past his own keeper into the corner of Finland’s net.
If the skipper’s cross for that one was sent more in hope than expectation, four minutes later he delivered properly.
Ralston’s long ball was headed out by a back-tracking Finnish defence to the Liverpool full-back. His return cross picked out Shankland, who headed in his third international goal from close range.
The creator and the finisher were promptly withdrawn, with Greg Taylor and under-21 call-up Tommy Conway sent on.
Finland thought they’d pulled one back when Robin Lod sent a curler beyond the diving Angus Gunn – but the assistant’s flag was already up.
The next Scotland sub prompted one of the biggest roars of the night as Craig Gordon replaced Gunn for his 75th – and probably last – international cap.
And the veteran was immediately in action, maintaining a Scotland clean sheet after Finland sub Ben Kallman skinned Hanley and Gordon had to claw his drive into the side netting for a corner.
And Kallman reduced the deficit when his header from fellow sub Oliver Antman’s cross squeezed under Gordon – with the goal ratified by a VAR check.
VAR was again in action seven minutes from time when Gordon recklessly flattened Finnish sub Tomas Galvez. The Hearts keeper claimed he’d got a touch on the ball, but the check ruled in favour of Finland and Antman drilled home the spot-kick.
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And though Conway forced a great stoppage-time save from Sinisalo with a header, Scotland suffered friendly disappointment again.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
