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Kazakhstan national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Mar 21, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Scotland national football team

3-0

Pertsukh (6'), Vorogovskiy (10'), Zainutdinov (51')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Sorry Scotland suffer humiliating defeat to Kazakhstan

Sorry Scotland suffer humiliating defeat to Kazakhstan
© Reuters
Alex McLeish's team lost heavily to a team ranked 117th in the world.

Scotland suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats as two goals in the opening 10 minutes sent them on their way to a 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan.

A top-two finish in their European Championship qualifying group already looks a slim chance after an opening defeat to a team ranked 117th in the world. Kazakhstan had only won three of their previous 40 competitive matches – against Andorra, Latvia and the Faroe Islands.

The opening two goals were particularly painful for Aberdeen midfielder Graeme Shinnie – who was standing in at left-back after Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson lost fitness battles.

Alex McLeish watches on as his side fall to a heavy defeat
Alex McLeish watches on as his side fall to a heavy defeat (Adam Davy/PA)

Shinnie, who played left-back earlier in his career, allowed both Yuriy Pertsukh and Yan Vorogovskiy to get in behind him to net.

Scotland's defence, which also featured Sheffield Wednesday's Liam Palmer making his debut at right-back, and Scott McKenna and David Bates in the middle, continued to look susceptible to home attacks and Baktiyor Zainutdinov headed a simple third in the 51st minute. Scott Bain, handed the gloves following Allan McGregor's international retirement, was blameless.

Alex McLeish's team – who started with Oli McBurnie up front with Oliver Burke and James Forrest either side – had not registered a shot on target by then and they limped to defeat after having a couple of efforts saved just before the hour mark.

While 27,000 home fans celebrated a memorable Kazakh New Year holiday, around 600 Scotland supporters watched in disbelief after travelling about 4,000 miles to see their team reach a new low.

Things looked like they were starting well enough in the Astana Arena, which had its roof closed for the occasion, as Scotland enjoyed good early possession on the artificial turf. But they were caught out by a ball over the top in the sixth minute as Michal Bilek enjoyed the perfect start to his reign as Kazakhstan head coach.

Shinnie let Pertsukh run off him in an apparent bid to play offside but his two-centre-backs were behind him and the midfielder took Alexander Merkel's pass down and lashed it into the roof of the net.

The hosts doubled their lead when Islambek Kuat played a pass inside Shinnie and Vorogovskiy slid in to finish from close range.

Events threatened to get even worse after another ball over the top put Kazakhstan in the clear again but this time the offside flag went up.

Scotland's Oliver McBurnie, left, and Johnny Russell, right, appear in shock
Scotland's Oliver McBurnie, left, and Johnny Russell, right, appear in shock (Adam Davy/PA)

With an average age of less than 25, McLeish's team were short in experience and looked vulnerable any time their hosts attacked. Bain came to the rescue to touch over Kuat's dipping long-range effort.

Scotland dominated possession in the latter stages of the half but could not trouble the home goalkeeper. Burke and Stuart Armstrong both got round the side of the Kazakhstan defence on two occasions but could not find a blue jersey.

McBurnie and John McGinn headed off target and the latter miskicked when skipper Callum McGregor's deep corner found him in space.

McLeish moved Burke to a central role but any hope of a Scotland comeback was extinguished in the 51st minute when a simple cross from midway inside the Scotland half was headed just inside the post by Zainutdinov, who had evaded the attentions of McKenna.

James Forrest is crowded out
James Forrest is crowded out (Adam Davy/PA)

Scotland got their first shot on target four minutes later when Armstrong burst through the middle and tried to steer home but Dmytro Nepogodov stretched to push the shot away from goal.

Another good chance was squandered five minutes later when Forrest volleyed weakly at the goalkeeper after McBurnie's knockdown.

McLeish immediately brought on Johnny Russell for McBurnie and moved Forrest to the left wing but the change failed to have the desired effect.

Scott McTominay and Marc McNulty also came on but Bain made two saves in the final 20 minutes while Scotland – who face San Marino on Sunday – failed to trouble the home keeper.

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Scotland manager Alex McLeish pictured on October 11, 2018
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

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Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

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Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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