Scotland welcomed Poland to Hampden Park in Group D of the Euro 2016 qualifying stages hoping to keep their qualification hopes alive against Adam Nawalka's men.
Poland went ahead through Robert Lewandowski after just three minutes, but Matt Ritchie pulled back a leveller before the break with a standout effort of his own.
The Scots went ahead through another memorable goal when Steven Fletcher registered after half time, before Lewandowski returned to break Scottish hearts to seal a draw at the death and knock Gordon Strachan's men out of contention for progression to France next year.
Relive all of the live action with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening everyone and thank you for joining us as Scotland face a crunch clash against visiting Poland in Group D of the Euro 2016 qualifying rounds.
Scotland's only hope of making it to France next year comes in the way of a potential fight in the playoffs, but they will be relying on the third-placed Republic of Ireland slipping up in the coming days. Strachan and company need a draw minimum tonight and for the ROI to lose to Germany in order to still be in with a shout come Sunday.
Things might have been so much better for Scotland ahead of this clash had they not been defeated embarrassingly by Georgia last month, and they now know that even securing back-to-back wins in their final two matches would not guarantee third spot. It really is all on the Republic making a hash of things if Scotland are to grab a playoff berth.
Things could not be more different from an almost-qualified Poland. The visitors need a win tonight to secure progression, but a draw on Scottish soil would not be too disastrous going into their final game on Sunday against the Republic.
Time for some team news now...
SCOTLAND STARTING XI: Marshall; Hutton, Whittaker, Martin, Hanley, Forrest, D.Fletcher, Brown, S. Fletcher, Naismith, Ritchie
SCOTLAND SUBSTITUTES: Gordon, McGregor, Robertson, Greer, Berra, McArthur, Maloney, Dorrans, Russell, Griffiths, Martin, Rhodes
POLAND STARTING XI: FabianskI; Glik, Piszczek, Pazdan, Maczynski, Krychowiak, Grosicki, Rybus, Blaszczykowski, Milik, Lewandowski
POLAND SUBSTITUTES: Szczesny, Boruc, Cionek, Jedrzejczyk, Szukala, Jodlowiec, Wawrzyniak, Olkowski, Linetty, Mila, Borysiuk, Sobiech
So the major news for the hosts is that Darren Fletcher has been passed fit to play in the middle of the park, but there seems to be no place for Watford's injured Ikechi Anya. Steven Fletcher is to lead Scotland in attack, while creative support is to come from Steven Naismith and Matt Ritchie.
As for the visitors, skipper Robert Lewandowski leads his side from the top, while there are also spots for the in-form Jakub Blaszczykowski and Arkadiusz Milik. Those three could pose a real handful for Strachan's men this evening.
Despite losing to both Georgia and Germany last time out, Scotland did produce some impressive attacking football against the current World Cup holders. The hosts will be looking for more of the same tonight as they look to put nearly-qualified Poland under some pressure away from home.
Poland know that they have the in-form Lewandowksi in their ranks tonight and that will fill the visitors with great confidence. At the moment, Lewandowski is the top scorer in the European Qualifiers with ten goals and has also been in sparking form in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
The Poles have a fairly good away record in the group and have won two, drawn one and lost one while on the road in qualification.
Here are some images from a little earlier as Hampden Park began its build-up for tonight's clash:
GALLERY | The atmosphere is building here at @Hampdenpark.1 hour until kick-off! #SCOPOL pic.twitter.com/2qVcRO4Dlq
— Scotland (@ScottishFA) October 8, 2015
The hosts will be looking to Ritche and James Forrest to provide some width down the flanks to really cause Poland some problems. They have at times been exposed when dragged from one side to the other in Group D. Fletcher's inclusion will be a huge boost for experience too, as he partakes in only his second game of the group stages.
Several reports in the press this week have suggested that the Poland players have been promised huge bonuses if they are able to secure progression tonight. A win this evening would basically them a place, unless the Republic are to get three points off of Germany. Regardless, victory against Scotland would take some huge pressure off of Adam Nawalka's shoulders.
The Scots will be having to break a massive hoodoo tonight if they want to put themselves in the best possible position for a playoff spot. As things stand, the history books indicate that Scotland have never beaten Poland at Hampden Park before. The first game between the sides was back in 1960, when the hosts lost 3-2 to the visiting Poles. Since then, Scotland have either lost or drawn their home fixtures against the White Eagles.
Hull City man Robert Snodgrass is missing this fixture through injury, but he has been keen to show his support this evening:
All the very best of luck to the lads tonight against Poland 👊⚽️#Scotland #monthescotia
— Robert snodgrass (@robsnodgrass7) October 8, 2015
Poland responded to their defeat at the hands of Germany by putting eight past Gibraltar last time out, and the visitors have made just two changes to that winning side. They have been able to welcome back Lukasz Piszczek and Michal Pazdan... Piszczek could be a key man at the back tonight and he gained some important minutes for his country when playing for Borussia Dortmund in their loss to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker at the weekend.
Not too long until we have kickoff in Scotland, Hampden should be electric this evening:
PIC | Just under 25 minutes to go until kick-off at Hampden Park! #SCOPOL pic.twitter.com/6gyLjJz9ld
— Scotland (@ScottishFA) October 8, 2015
It is an interesting decision to leave Shaun Maloney on the bench tonight, clearly as Strachan has looked to shore up his midfield instead. He could prove a vital substitute to introduce later in the game should the Scots be chasing a goal or two. At the moment this looks like a side that might be looking to soak up pressure and counter, but let's see...
Scotland will have to improve defensively tonight and that inclusion of Steven Whittaker at left-back should bring some experience. The changes of Ritchie and Naismith tonight should bring some added pace and width too and might just stop Poland pressing forward at will given the threat of Scotland on the flanks.
West Brom midfielder Fletcher has not started for Scotland for 15 months and his inclusion could be an inspired one. He brings a measure of calm to midfield, but he is also arguably one of the most industrious players in the game.
Lewandowski is clearly the star man on show. He has bagged 12 goals in his four last Bundesliga games. The Scotland defenders might just be looking to plant a few aggressively challenges on the striker early on. The Bayern man has been complaining since the reserve of the fixture about Scotland's physicality on the field.
Time for us to make a prediction now... Given that Scotland are at home, I'm banking on them securing a vital point to potentially keep their hopes alive tonight. They will obviously still be depending on the Republic of Ireland, but Strachan's men should have enough with the crowd behind them to earn a point at Hampden. I'm going with 2-2.
The players are now making their way out onto the pitch and Hampden is as loud as it has ever been in recent history. We have a sold-out affair tonight and this could get a tad emotional. We are close.
Poland are just belting their way through a rather hoarse rendition of their national anthem, and then it'll be up to the Scots. If only games were decided on singing ability... Bagpipes here we go!
Scotland will measure up in their home blue kit, while Poland are in white and red. The teams are just posing for some photos and then we will be underway.
KICKOFF! Scotland get things moving in the first half as the ball is moved into Polish territory. The away side soon win possession and look to build from the back.
The hosts enjoy some early possession down the right flank before the ball is moved over to the left, but the move breaks down when the ball into Fletcher is cut out by Pazdan.
GOAL! SCOTLAND 0-1 POLAND (Robert Lewandowski)
Nightmare start for Scotland, then. The Poles win the ball in the middle of the park and the visitors move through midfield with great pace. The ball from Milik is slipped into the path of Lewandowski who breaks through the middle of defence to beat a rather suspect offside trap. The striker takes control with his first touch and slots past Marshall down at his near post with his second. Brilliant finishing...
Strachan has a lot of work to do now and it will be important that Scotland do not lose their heads too early in this game. Poland have control of things at the moment and they are looking to build everything from the back. This time a long ball is fed into Lewandowski, who is eventually hounded out of possession despite some neat trickery.
Fletcher has his head up in the middle of the park and he goes for a long through-ball into the path of his namesake inside the area. The ball is not a poor one, but has just a bit too much pace on it and evades the head of the frontman in the Poland box.
More great work from Lewandowski sees the striker bring the ball down and feed Piszczek down the right flank. The full-back cuts the ball back into the Bayern man, but he is thwarted by some good defending from Martin in the centre of the box.
Poland are all over this game at the minute. Milik plays a wonderful through ball into the path of Grosicki, who then provides a cross for an on-rushing Lewandowski inside the area. The striker's qualities escape him this time as he produces a wild air-kick as Scotland are allowed to clear.
Whittaker wins a corner down on the left, and the ball into the box is a decent one. However, Fabianski shows great command of his area to come off his line and punch away, before earning a rather questionable free kick.
Lewandowski is almost in again! A big hoof forward has Hanley in trouble as he allows the ball to bounce. In doing so, the Poland forward almost steals in to grab possession, but the ball just about runs through to Marshall in time to remove the danger.
Poland are looking very threatening on the counter and it is Milik who is making things tick in the middle. Another telling ball from the middle finds Lewandowski, whose knock around the corner almost deceives Hutton and could have put Grosicki through on goal had the right-back not picked it out.
Fletcher has cut a pretty isolated figure in these early stages as the Scotland midfield look a bit preoccupied in trying to contain Poland in the middle of the park. There is not much Scotland can do at the moment with Poland moving the ball forward this well.
YELLOW CARD Hmm, Naismith does brilliantly to turn on the edge of the area before being pulled down by Rybus. The referee waives play on as the ball moves out to Ritchie, who should do so much better with his cross as Fletcher waits inside the area. The referee then pulls play back to book Rebus. A wasted chance for the Scots.
CLOSE! Naismith robs the full-back and is then able to switch the ball across the face of the box for Fletcher. The striker cannot take full control with his first touch, allowing Pazdan to steal in and win the ball back for his side. He might have been in there had his touch been a tad sharper.
CLOSE! Martin plays a wonderful ball forward down the flank for Forrest on the left side, who then squares the ball into Naismith inside the area. The Everton man takes one touch before firing a shot straight into the body of Maczynski, who provides a vital block for Poland. Scotland are slowly growing back into this affair.
Poland are given a bit too much space down the right, where Piszczek makes steady progress. He switches the play inside to Milik, who has a go from distance before seeing his shot fly high and wide of the target.
CLOSE! Poland are almost two goals to the good as Lewandowski caps off some fine movement to feed in Blaszczykowski into the right side of the box. The midfielder opens up his body before flashing a wonderful shot across the face of goal and just a few inches wide of the far post.
Scotland move well down the other area and Ritchie is almost in inside the area, but is then thwarted by a last-ditch slide from Pazdan who has to concede a corner. Fletcher is up highest, but Poland are able to win a free kick to settle things down inside their own half.
Whittaker almost comes unstuck when he is opened up down the right with Blaszczykowski breaking in. He sends a ball across the face of the box, where Hanley is able to get a vital touch on it to direct its movement into the path of a grateful Marshall. The next goal could go either way, really.
Hutton goes on the gallop for the first time and he comes inside to win a free kick from around 25 yards out on the right-hand side of the pitch. Ritchie has the ball fed into him and he fires a shot straight into the wall. The rebound falls to Hanley at the back-post, who swings a wild boot and misses completely with the goal gaping. Luckily for him the linesman has his flag raised for offside...
CLOSE! Superb hold-up play sees Naismith spin his man and feed Ritchie down the right channel. He sends a low cross into a rushing Fletcher, but Fabianski is out quickly to claim at the vital moment. Great attacking move from the Scots, that.
Krychowiak powers down the left channel now and he is almost in but for some solid strength from Hutton who has to concede a corner. The set-piece comes to nothing as Poland are penalised for a foul from Gilk amid the clambering bodies.
CLOSE! Ritchie and Hutton team up well to enable the full-back to swing in a cross for Fletcher and Brown in the middle. Both miss their headers, leaving Forrest free at the back-post who sees his shot blocked on its way to goal. Scotland are much improved in the past 15 minutes and will not want half time at the minute.
More promising hold-up play has Fletcher bringing the ball down on his chest and encouraging Forrest on the overlap, but Piszczek does well to get back and concede the throw.
Piszczek finds himself moving unmarked down the right and he makes progress right onto the byline before trying to cut the ball back into the middle. Scotland are wise to the threat and are able to hoof the ball away with Lewa and company lurking.
GOAL! SCOTLAND 1-1 POLAND (Matt Ritchie)
Stop the presses, Scotland are back in the game... Forrest has the ball on the left side and he switches it towards Ritchie on the right. The winger takes the ball out from under his feet with one touch, before crashing a stunning left-footed effort from distance that flies beyond Fabianski and into the top corner. Last kick of the half and the Scots have a leveller. You could not write this!
HALF TIME: SCOTLAND 1-1 POLAND
What a brilliant strike to bring an end to the half. Scotland were coming back into the game quickly and they have perhaps deserved that late goal. Naismith and Fletcher have been particularly impressive in the comeback, but Scotland have looked a touch porous in the middle of the park and will need to address things at the break.
Poland have offered glimpses of attacking brilliance since the early goal, although it has been the hosts who have looked strongest going forward. Fletcher and Naismith seem telepathic at times tonight and the added width of Ritchie and Forrest is starting to cause the travellers a few problems. Scotland could be onto something here...
However, the Scots will be well aware of the clinical threat of Lewandowski and his finish for the opener was a marker of pure efficiency. The home side will need to be careful that they do lot leave things too up in defence come the second half, as the away side could snatch another goal in the blink of an eye.
Strachan might just want to stick a permanent marker on Milik, his passes have been destructive thus far and his ball for the opener was outstanding. There were glimmers of offside for that goal, but take nothing away from the pass that spilt the Scottish defence in two.
The Scots did well not to lose their heads after going behind early on. They were able to scramble back and claim a 51% share of the ball in the first half, while also managing to conjure six shots on goal. Poland have had 17 dangerous attacks compared to Scotland's 14, but the hosts have managed to pull back level come the break.
As it stands, the Republic of Ireland are still level at 0-0 with Germany. Scotland will be hoping that Germany can snatch a winner away from home. At the moment Scotland are heading out of contention tonight despite being level with Poland.
KICKOFF! Poland get things moving, as Scotland aim to carry through their form from the first period. We are now facing a critical second half in Glasgow.
SAVE! Milik does well to get picked out inside the area and he shows great feet to shuffle and fire a shot away to the bottom corner. Marshall is quick to make a move, however, and gets down low to push away the striker's shot.
CLOSE! Nearly for the Scots... Naismith steals in at the back-post to meet a cross from Forrest. The keeper misses the ball completely, but the forward's body positioning is out of place and somehow he clears the ball instead of making the required connection to score.
CLOSE! Poland move away on the counter through Blaszczykowski down the right channel, and he is able to pick out a pin-point cross for Lewandowski in the middle. The striker should at least test the keeper, but he can only scoop his rushed effort over the bar.
We have had an end-to-end introduction to the second half and it is Scotland who come on the attack this time through Forrest on the right. He picks out an overlap into Hutton, who seeks out Fletcher in the middle. The cross is not the best, but the frontman does what he can to connect with a header that loops beyond the far post and away from danger.
Hampden is really alive now as the hosts seek out what could be a winner. Poland break down the left through Grosicki, who sees his cross into the middle turned away by a well-positioned Hanley.
Forrest disguises a brilliant reverse ball around the corner for Whittaker down in the left corner of the Poland half, but the full-back is unable to steal in as Pazdan gets across to hoof the ball away. Poland are yet to really get the ball under control despite looking threatening when inside the final third.
GOAL! SCOTLAND 2-1 POLAND (Steven Fletcher)
Wow, things are blown wide open now as Scotland move ahead with a fantastic effort from Fletcher just inside the Poland box. The frontman keeps up with his teammates on the counter until the ball finally breaks to him down through the right channel. Without having to touch the ball, he opens up to guide a wonderful curling effort that bends past Fabianski's dive and into the top corner.
CLOSE! Scotland should have a two-goal advantage... Hutton powers down the right wing before chipping a ball into the centre of the box. Fletcher climbs highest to beat his marker, but he can only send his header straight down the throat of Fabianski.
Lewandowski earns a cheap free kick off Hutton, leaving a dangerous ball to be sent into the Scottish box. Marshall is all over the delivery, however, and he shows great composure to come off his line and catch the ball without any trouble.
SUBSTITUTE: Naismith has been impressive tonight, but he is replaced by Maloney in attack.
We have 20 minutes left in this encounter, what do Scotland do? Another goal would surely cement victory, but if they are to push they could open themselves up to a demoralising equaliser. Three point tonight are key given that Ireland are still holding Germany elsewhere at the minute.
SUBSTITUTE: Poland make a change as Rybus is replaced by Jakub Wawrzyniak.
SUBSTITUTE: The Scots make another change, this time in midfield as Fletcher makes way for James McArthur. That could be key as Poland appear to be taking control of the midfield in the past few minutes. Some fresh legs could make all of the difference in the middle.
McArthur has possession on the left wing as he arcs his body to make a cross into the box. Fletcher makes a run towards the near post, but the ball is delivered to the far one and the move breaks down with Poland winning an easy goal kick.
UPDATE: Ouch! We are just getting news that the Republic of Ireland have taken a 1-0 lead over Germany in Dublin, thanks to Shane Long. Scotland are now facing the prospect of disappointment despite leading in this encounter. As things stand, Poland have moved down into third spot while the ROI are in second...
CLOSE! Piszczek makes a run forward just inside the right channel in the Scotland box, and he almost connects with a good finish when the ball is cut back to him from Lewandowski. Instead, his effort flies just a few inches high and wide of the Scotland goal.
Poland have not given this up as we head into the final stages. Grosicki does well to move down the left and beat Hutton, before turning a whipped delivery into the box. Marshall does well, however, as he rushes out to snatch the ball from danger.
YELLOW CARD Hutton buys a smart free kick by trying to hold off the challenge of Krychowiak, who is eventually booked for persistent fouling inside the Scotland half.
Scotland require a massive favour from Germany tonight. The hosts will have to preserve this lead, though, and they are looking to take the sting out of proceedings in the final five minutes of the contest. The fans are a touch subdued given the Ireland goal, but anything can happen in football; we all know that for certain.
CLOSE! Poland appear a touch bereft of ideas at the minute. Pazdan seeks a chip forward, which Hanley breaks through to clear with his header. However, Grosicki then gets free of his marker to move unmarked inside the Scotland box, only for his header to fly over with just Marshall to beat.
This defeat could be massive for Poland going into their final game with Ireland on Sunday. The visitors have a go front distance, leaving Marshall to make a strong save down at his bottom corner.
Four minutes of additional time...
This win might leave Scotland with a slither of hope. They would need to win their final game and hope that Poland lose to the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. Scotland currently have a better head-to-head record against the Poles.
GOAL! SCOTLAND 2-2 POLAND (Robert Lewandowski)
FULL TIME: SCOTLAND 2-2 POLAND
That late equaliser from Lewandowski all but ends Scotland's hopes of qualification. It comes as Grosicki lifts a clever free kick into the area, where the ball breaks through the scramble and onto the Scottish goal-line. Lewandowski is first to it and he is able to slide home and earn Poland a last-ditch point.
As it stands we are still playing in Dublin where Ireland lead Germany by one goal. The table shows the ROI and Poland locked on 18 points each, with Scotland currently heading out. Germany need two quick goals to give Scotland any kind of chance.
The final whistle has now gone in the group's other clash, where the Republic of Ireland have beaten Germany 1-0. That result sees Scotland's qualification hopes finished and they will have no chance of getting to France now. Ireland and Poland both share 18 points each, and are due to face each other on Sunday. Whoever wins that game will be taking second place. That is going to be all for me tonight, Scotland sure put you through every emotion possible, don't they?
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
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