Scotland Claims 2-1 Victory Over Belarus in World Cup Qualifier

Scotland secured a key 2-1 victory against Belarus in their World Cup qualifying match on October 15, 2023. Che Adams and Scott McTominay scored in each half, helping Scotland to rise to the provisional top of Group D with a total of 10 points from four matches.

The match took place in Glasgow, where Belarus started strong, creating early chances and earning three corners within the first ten minutes. A header from Pavel Zabelin narrowly missed the target, signaling their intent. However, Scotland responded swiftly, finding the net just five minutes later. A well-timed through ball from Jack Hendry set up Adams at the edge of the box, who finished confidently with his left foot. Initially flagged offside, a VAR review confirmed Adams was onside, granting Scotland the early lead.

Belarus, despite their current ranking of 100th in the world, demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the match, registering a remarkable 22 shots. They came close to equalizing in the 63rd minute when Yevgeny Malashevich found the back of the net. However, this goal was disallowed after a VAR check revealed a foul on McTominay during the build-up.

As the match progressed, Scotland maintained their advantage but faced pressure from the visitors. The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when McTominay, receiving a cross from Andy Robertson, doubled Scotland’s lead with a powerful shot. This goal proved crucial as Belarus managed to score a consolation goal through Gleb Kuchko in added time, but it was too late to impact the outcome.

With this defeat, Belarus faced their fourth consecutive loss, effectively eliminating them from contention for the top two spots in the group. Meanwhile, Scotland’s victory positions them well as they prepare for their final group matches against Greece and Denmark next month.

The group winners will secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up will have the opportunity to progress to the playoffs. As Scotland continues their campaign, they remain focused on achieving their goal of qualifying for the tournament.