Scotland threw away a two-goal lead over Finland at Hampden Park to end their EURO2024 preparations with a draw at Hampden Park.
Arttu Hoskonen’s own goal was swiftly followed by a Lawrence Shankland header that gave the Tartan Army a comfortable buffer on home soil, but that showed signs of a late collapse when substitute Benjamin Källmann clawed one back in the 72nd minute.
Oliver Antman, having registered the assist for Källman’s header, completed the comeback five minutes from time as he dispatched past Craig Gordon from the penalty spot.
As it happened
Scotland certainly didn’t race into proceedings at Hampden on Friday – and nor did their Finnish opponents, though it was the Huuhkajat that forced the better chances throughout the first half.
The match remained goalless at the break but by the hour mark, Scotland had soared into a two-goal lead. A scrappy own goal from Arttu Hoskonen handed the hosts the advantage, before Lawrence Shankland arrived on the scene to nod home – the perfect end to a sweeping move that Scotland have been so desperately crying out for as of late.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinland reached the EURO2024 playoffs and were comprehensively defeated in Cardiff by a buoyant Cymru side that would later miss out on a trip to Germany after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Poland.
Perhaps Scotland underestimated the Huuhkajat a little, as a sleeping defence allowed Benjamin Kallman to rise highest inside the box and nod home to halve the deficit just minutes into Craig Gordon’s substitute appearance between the sticks.
Now aged 41 and with his omission from Scotland’s final EURO2024 squad confirmed post-match by Steve Clarke, his 75th cap may prove to be his final one – but the stalwart wasn’t treated to the end he’d have so desired, conceding a penalty in the 85th minute that was slotted away by Oliver Antman to restore parity.
Embed from Getty ImagesEstimates suggest 200,000 fans will be making the trip to Scotland over the coming weeks, as their collective dream of watching the Tartan Army at a major tournament is realised once again. Play as they did throughout their qualification campaign, and those fans may just need to book some more time off work and find last-minute hotels.
The lineups
SCO: Gunn; Tierney, Hanley, Hendry; Robertson, McGregor, Gilmour, Ralston; McGinn, Christie; Shankland
FIN: Joronen; Ollila, Väisänen, Hoskonen, Niskanen; Mäenpää, Peltola, Lod, Terho; Pukki, Pohjanpalo