Scotland edged past Belarus with a laboured 2-1 win at Hampden Park, securing at least a World Cup playoff spot but offering little in the way of convincing performance. Despite the positive result, the mood among fans and players was subdued as the team struggled to impose themselves against the 100th-ranked side in the world.
The game began with warning signs for Scotland as Belarus created several early chances. Scott McKenna and Kenny McLean were forced into crucial defensive interventions before Pavel Zabelin missed a free header. Scotland finally settled when Ché Adams opened the scoring midway through the first half, firing in from Jack Hendry’s pass after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. However, the hosts failed to build on their advantage, with Ben Gannon-Doak’s decision-making and the team’s overall tempo leaving much to be desired.
The second half brought further tension. Belarus thought they had equalised through Yevgeny Malashevich, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR check that ruled Scott McTominay had been fouled in the buildup. Scotland capitalised moments later when McTominay pounced on a loose ball after Aleksandr Martynovich’s poor clearance to make it 2-0. His muted celebration summed up the team’s frustration despite extending their lead.
Belarus continued to threaten, producing 22 shots on goal and pressing Scotland deep into their own half. Their persistence paid off late in stoppage time when Hleb Kuchko raced past Andy Robertson to score, setting up a nervous finish for the hosts. Scotland held on, but the performance left manager Steve Clarke visibly unimpressed. He described it as one of the most disappointing nights of his tenure, calling his team’s display “way below par.”
Despite the criticism, Scotland’s qualifying campaign remains on track, with ten points from a possible twelve ensuring at least a playoff berth after Denmark’s win over Greece. Clarke maintained faith in his squad, insisting they would respond better next month. Still, the lacklustre showing against Belarus served as a reminder that major improvement is needed if Scotland hope to make a meaningful impact at the World Cup.
