GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)—Stephen McManus headed a dramatic winner seven minutes into second-half stoppage time as Scotland came from behind to defeat Liechtenstein 2-1 in European Championship qualifying on Tuesday.
In the last play of the match, Barry Robson swung over a corner from the left and McManus rose high to head into the corner and put Scotland top of Group I on four points.
“It shows character that we keep going to the nfl jerseys
end,” McManus said. “It was a great result for us—when you react like that in football matches, sometimes you get what you deserve.”
Liechtenstein captain Mario Frick curled home a superb finish in the 46th minute to give his team a shock lead at Hampden Park.
Scotland, which failed to direct a shot on target in the first half, had the crowd on its back before Kenny Miller equalized in the 63rd minute with an exquisite volley.
It was Liechtenstein’s second successive defeat in qualifying, but the visitors were on the verge of only a second away win in the country’s history.
“I feel happy and relieved,” Scotland coach Craig Levein said. “I don’t know if lucky is the word, I’m happy for eveyone associated with the team.”
Liechtenstein stifled Scotland in the first half and limited the home side to half-chances, two of which fell to Kris Boyd.
The Middlesbrough striker dragged a shot wide in the Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
21st minute and then headed wide an inviting cross from Miller, who had beaten two players on the right flank.
The home fans, who before kickoff had given one minute of applause to honor the 25th anniversary of the passing of former Scotland coach Jock Stein, were on edge at the interval and Frick gave them more cause for concern less than a minute into the second half.
Frick, who plays for Swiss side St. Gallen, controlled a ball in from the left and, from a standing position, curled a sublime shot into the corner from 18 yards.
To make matters worse for Scotland, debutant left back Lee Wallace was carried off on a stretcher in the 54th minute after falling awkwardly in a challenge
Miller, who was lively all game, came to his team’s rescue when he pounced on a poor defensive clearance following a cross from the left and slammed a first-time volley in off the bar from 10 yards.
McManus completed the recovery by beating two defenders to a curling corner from Robson to bury his header past static goalkeeper Peter Jehle.
Lineups:
Scotland: Allan McGregor, Alan Hutton, Dallas Cowboys jersey
David Weir, Stephen McManus, Lee Wallace (Barry Robson, 54), Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Lee McCulloch, James McFadden (James Morrison, 46), Kenny Miller, Kris Boyd (Steven Naismith, 66).
Liechtenstein: Peter Jehle, Yves Oehri, Martin Stocklasa, Michael Stocklasa, Martin Rechsteiner, Michele Polverino, Sandro Wieser (Ronny Buchel, 71), Philippe Erne, Mario Frick (Fabio D’Elia, 79), Franz Burgmeier, David Hasler (Nicolas Hasler, 90).
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