Scotland 2 – 0 Macedonia – 5th September – Burley’s boys battle on

Scotland managed to keep their slim World Cup dream alive as they overcame a stubborn and technical Macedonian side.

The boo’s and jeers rang out around a wet Hampden Park at half-time as the performance from the Tartan Army was less than convincing. Macedonia dominated much of the first period and found hole after hole in a ragged Scottish defense that look vulnerable to the skill of Pandev and Stojkov. For all their efforts Macedonia failed to provide that killer touch and tempers flared at halftime when Scott Brown won a corner when he was expected by the Macedonians to play the ball back to their keeper after one of their player had gone down injured.

However the gloomy and wet afternoon in Glasgow did not affect the team as they came out in the second half determined to break their obstinate visitors down. It took until the 56^th minute when mounting Scottish pressure finally broke through and a Steven Fletcher cross was glanced on by Brown and swept past Jane Nikoloski in the Macedonian goal. From then on in it was all Scotland as they pressed and pressed to find the goal that would secure their victory.

It took a piece of individual brilliance from Scottish hero James McFadden to get it. Collecting the ball inside his own half he promptly took on the Macedonian defense before rounding the keeper and slotting home to seal a 2-0 Scottish victory.

Stage one is completed; now all the Scot’s have to do is put in a stellar performance against the Dutch on Wednesday and hope that other results go their way if they are to clinch qualification to South Africa 2010.