Lithuania 0-3 Scotland: Scots keep World Cup hopes alive in style

Scotland kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with an assured 3-0 victory in Lithuania on Friday.

Gordon Strachan’s men travelled to Vilnius knowing anything less than a win would all but end their hopes of going to Russia 2018.

But goals from Stuart Armstrong (25) and Andrew Robertson (30) in a dominant first-half display eased the nerves before James McArthur (72) made sure of the victory.
The result lifts Scotland up to third in Group F, four points behind second-place Slovakia ahead of Monday’s Qualifier with whipping boys Malta at Hampden Park.

Player ratings
Lithuania: Setkus (6), Vaitkunas (5), Kijanskas (4), Freidgeimas (4), Borovskij (5), Zulpa (4), Kuklys (4), Cernych (4), Slivka (5), Novikovas (6), Sernas (5).

Subs: Verbickas (4), Matulevicius (4), Spalvis (4).

Scotland: Gordon (7), Tierney (6), Mulgrew (6), Berra (6), Robertson (8), Brown (7), McArthur (7), Armstrong (8), Forrest (6), Phillips (7), Griffiths (7).

Subs: McGinn (5), Ritchie (5), Martin (5).

Man of the Match: Andrew Robertson
Scotland’s qualification campaigns of recent years are remembered for falling short at the final hurdle, but any chance of that trend repeating itself was quickly eradicated by a powerful start in the Lithuanian capital.

With the exception of Arvydas Novikovas’ dragged 10th-minute effort, it was one-way traffic as the Scots laid siege to the Lithuania goal.

And they got the goal their industrious start deserved as Armstrong headed a Leigh Griffiths corner into the back of the net from close range midway through the half.

One became two shortly after when Liverpool full-back Robertson underlined Scotland’s dominance by curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Scotland started the second period needing to score a decisive third, and, after peppering the Lithuanian goal, McArthur finally got the better of stopper Ernestas Setkus with a scooped finish 18 minutes from time.

Team news
Gordon Strachan made three changes to the Scotland side that were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw by England in June. James McArthur, James Forrest and Matt Phillips were drafted in for Ikechi Anya and James Morrison, who dropped to the bench, and Robert Snodgrass, who missed out completely.
It means a place at next summer’s World Cup is very much still up for grabs for Scotland, who look to capitalise on Slovakia’s trip to Wembley when Malta travel to Glasgow.

Otpa stats

Scotland are now unbeaten in their last three competitive games (W2 D1), keeping a clean sheet in two of them (v Slovenia and Lithuania).
After the previous four games between these two had produced just two goals, Scotland scored as many in the first half in their eventual 3-0 win.
Gordon Strachan’s side have netted more than once in consecutive international games for the first time since October 2015 (a run of three).
Leigh Griffiths has been directly involved in four of Scotland’s last five goals in 2018 World Cup qualifying (two goals and two assists).
In fact, no Scotland player has had a hand in more goals than Griffiths in the current World Cup qualifying campaign (4).
The manager

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan: „The individual performance from some of the boys was outstanding, so it was a good night. In terms of pure football that was as good as it gets from my time. The guys were phenomenal.“
Man of the match – Andrew Robertson

Robertson took to the field in Vilnius with all the swagger of a man who had just become a father for the very first time. It’s been a momentous few weeks for the promising full-back, who has settled into life at Liverpool with ease. Robertson was the standout performer on a rare night of comfort for the Scots, his 30th-minute stunner the highlight.
What’s next?

Scotland host Malta at Hampden Park on Monday – live on Sky Sports Football – while Lithuania travel to Slovenia for their match in World Cup qualification.Euro Soccer Bonus

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