Scotland were denied an equaliser in the passing away moments of their 2-1 Nations League defeat to Croatia in Zagreb.
Ryan Christie inoculation the disciplined readers in floater in the 33rd minute from a tight angle before striker Igor Matanovic levelled three mins later.
Steve Clarke’s side came under augmenting pressure after the break and also at some point offered in in the 70th minute of the League A Group 1 encounter at Stadion Maksimir once Andrej Kramaric led the residence side in front.
Singularly, in a dramatic ending, Che Adams, who refurbished Lyndon Dykes after the Scots dropped behind, had the round in the web in the 5th minute of added time, only for VAR to forbid the exertion for offside, dealing an additional forcefulness to the readers.
The Scots have discovered the top level of the Nations League a arduous job, with defeats to Poland and also Portugal in their first two components, and also they go relevant into Tuesday’s gallery versus the Portuguese at Hampden Park with merely one win in 15 – and also enquiring on your own if their luck will conceivably turn.
In lessen Clarke was escaped with a decreased squad in Croatia, with over a loads gamers inaccessible via injury.
He offered a first start to Ben Doak, on lending at Middlesbrough from Liverpool, while 41-year-ratty goalkeeper Craig Gordon was in between the sticks for the first time provided that November 2022, with Anthony Ralston, John Souttar, Grant Hanley and also captain Andy Robertson gaining upward the rest of the defence.
Kenny McLean partnered Billy Gilmour in the middle and also Christie launched on the escaped, with Scott McTominay behind single striker Dykes, favored to Adams who had fought with one voice week with sicknesses.
Croatia’s talismanic captain Luka Modric, 39, was in his prototypical midfield berth and also there were familiar confronts in the residence side such as Ivan Perisic and also Josko Gvardiol.
There was a good exertion from Dykes early in the gallery.
In the sixth minute he usurped Borna Sosa merely within Croatia’s half yet his treacherous long-selection inoculation cleared the club.
Moments later a Hanley sneak enabled Matanovic to run in on urge and also, in his comb to win previously the round, he fouled the striker merely outdoor the box, gaining himself a reservation, with Luka Sucic’s send out-kick hampered by one of his own gamers.
There were tips that a urge was on its way.
On the half-hour mark Gordon funnelled out a nice conserve from Sosa’s angled drive before the Croatia opponent led wide – and also then Scotland took the lead.
The spirited Doak crossed relevant into the box from the relevant and also a fearsome oversight by Sucic saw the round loss previously to Christie, who slammed it in the instruction of urge from a tight angle, with defender Duje Caleta-Automotive failing to withhold it out.
The lead was quickly-lived as Matanovic, smartly appointed out by Perisic within the box, turned and also drilled a inoculation low across Gordon and also relevant into the far corner.
Gordon funnelled out critical preserves from Matanovic and also Modric early in the 2nd half as the residence side turned the screw and also Sucic growled a inoculation past Gordon, yet referee Istvan Kovacs had blown for a Scotland foul.
Modric curled a inoculation merely wide in the 65th minute as the readers were driven away once more and also, once Gordon could only predict a strong drive from Sosa high relevant into the atmosphere, Kramaric was on hand to head in.
The urge had been coming and also Scotland had to react.
Adams came on for Dykes and also Ryan Gauld refurbished Doak and also minute later Christie completed clear yet failed to hit the target.
In a late rally Adams also had an avenue yet lobbed it wide of the far post.
But once he had the round in the web from chummy selection with seconds lingering it appeared like the Scots had recovered a juncture, only for VAR to intervene.
