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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ewan Murray at Hampden Park

McTominay and Adams strike as dismal Scotland edge out Belarus and seal playoff slot

Scott McTominay fires home Scotland’s second goal
Scott McTominay fires in Scotland’s second goal, which proved to be decisive. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

Someone within Hampden Park had the temerity to blast Freed From Desire over the public address system at full time. A song reserved normally for euphoric moments only just drowned out the jeers which met a Scotland victory. People just want more and more? Too right they do.

With this win, Steve Clarke and his players edged closer to the World Cup finals tournament. It was just that a return to that scene for the first time since 1998 felt a million miles away as the Scots limped and laboured past Belarus. “We know we have got to be better, man,” Scott McTominay said. The Napoli midfielder was even more profound as he scored Scotland’s second; second word “me” and the first a rhyme with “duck”. McTominay’s lack of celebrations depicted perfectly Scotland’s messy night.

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