Agencies
Scotland remain winless in Nations League A as Croatia came from behind to triumph in Zagreb and prolong Steve Clarke’s side’s 13-month wait for a competitive victory.
Missing key players and on a run of one win in 14 games, Scotland battled well in a cagey match and thought they had snatched a draw in the 95th minute, but Kristijan Jakic’s own goal was ruled out for offside against Che Adams in a dramatic finish.
It had started so well for Scotland when Ryan Christie squeezed in the opening goal after Ben Doak’s cross was swiped into his path by Luka Sucic. But their lead only lasted four minutes, Igor Matanovic steering Ivan Perisic’s cutback into the bottom corner to level before the break.
That allowed Croatia to turn the screw in the second half and Zlatko Dalic’s side broke Scotland’s resistance on 70 minutes.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon initially blocked Borna Sosa’s powerful close-range drive, but Andrej Kramaric was lurking at the back post to head in the rebound.
Scotland had their best moments in pursuit of an equaliser, with John Souttar heading wide and Adams going close with a late lob, before the Torino striker thought he had come up with a crucial moment.
He slipped around the back of the Croatia defence and finished Kenny McLean’s back-heel flick, via a strong deflection off Jakic, but Scotland celebrations were cut short when the Video Assistant Referee spotted Adams was offside.
The Scotland players were left devastated at the full-time whistle and they remain bottom of Nations League A1 having lost all three games, with Portugal to come at Hampden on Tuesday.
When Adams wheeled away in celebration having thought he had helped snatch a draw with the final kick of the game, there was a sense Scotland were about to get what their performance merited.
Missing over 10 players including John McGinn, Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McKenna, and with Adams not fit enough to start, Clarke’s depleted group were mostly disciplined and restricted Croatia to few quality chances.
Up the other end 18-year-old Doak in particular shone on his first start, driving the team forward up the right wing and helping tee up Christie’s opener.
