Scotland captain Andy Robertson headed a superb 93rd-minute winner in Warsaw that saved his side from relegation in the Nations League.
On a dramatic night Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn stroked the visitors ahead as they looked for a win that could have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the competition next spring.
It was a lead that was nearly added to by Lyndon Dykes and Billy Gilmour in the first half, whose dipping 25-yard shot cannoned back off the crossbar.
Poland – without injured totem Robert Lewandowski – equalised when Kamil Piatkowski ripped a shot in from range.
Andy Robertson's first Scotland goal in five years…
…and what a time to get it 😍#POLSCO pic.twitter.com/a5kaKORAt5
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 18, 2024
That goal looked like meaning relegation to League B for Steve Clarke’s side but Robertson popped up with a back-post header with seconds left that means a playoff next year.
Scotland could still be relegated if they lose that – but the Robertson winner did ensure that Poland are down.
The third-placed finish means Scotland are likely to be in the third pot of seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw which takes place on Friday 13 December.
Early strike for McGinn
McGinn scored the winner against Croatia last week and was in the right place again just three minutes in when he strode onto Ben Doak’s cutback to steer in from the edge of the area. It was Scotland’s quickest goal in a competitive international for 23 years.
McGinn’s 20th goal for his country means that only Denis Law (30), Kenny Dalglish (30), Hughie Gallacher (23) and Lawrie Reilly (23) have more at this level.
Another milestone man came to the rescue late on. Robertson’s 80th cap made him the joint third most-capped player for Scotland (level with Darren Fletcher) behind only Dalglish (102) and Jim Leighton (91) and his fourth goal was a perfectly-placed header from John Souttar’s cross.
