- Spain defeated Group A leaders Scotland 2-0 thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet.
- Scotland required just a point to secure their spot in the upcoming European Championship.
- Scott McTominay appeared to have given Scotland the winning goal on the hour mark, but the wonderful free kick was ruled out for an offside against Jack Hendry.
In the Euro 2024 qualifying match on Thursday in Seville, Spain defeated Group A leaders Scotland 2-0 thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet.
Scotland required just a point to secure their spot in the upcoming European Championship. Scott McTominay appeared to have given Scotland the winning goal on the hour mark, but the wonderful free kick was ruled out for an offside against Jack Hendry.
After Morata headed in a cross from Jesus Navas from close range for Spain’s first goal 14 minutes later, Sancet increased the lead for the home team in the 87th minute.
Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring against Scotland. Photo/The Times
With 15 points, Scotland is still in first place in Group A, three points ahead of Spain, who is in second place but has a game still to play. Scotland will play Georgia in their next qualifier
After Morata’s brilliant ball set up Ferran Torres’s run, Spain could have claimed the lead in the first two minutes, but Torres’ shot missed the post.
Morata met a corner at the far post for La Roja in the fifth minute, but he only managed to head wide of the goal, giving Scotland another reprieve in the opening minutes.
Unsurprisingly, Spain was controlling the ball, and in the 20th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal tried his luck by lifting a shot over the crossbar following deft skill by Alejandro Balde.
The host team next hit the post in the 34th minute when Mikel Merino’s direct shot hit the frame after Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn was badly outmuscled.
In the 38th minute, Morata poked a low Dani Carvajal cross past Gunn, giving Spain the lead. However, the offside flag saved the away team, and it was later determined to have been the correct call.
Due to an arm injury sustained by Andrew Robertson late in the first quarter, Scotland was forced to make a substitution, but Steve Clarke’s team was still able to enter the locker rooms at halftime with the score tied at 0-0.
One of Spain’s two halftime substitutions, Bryan Zaragoza, sent a long-range attempt over Scotland’s crossbar in the opening moments of the second half.
In the 53rd minute, Ryan Christie was gifted the first real chance of the game for the opposition when John McGinn found him with a deft ball, but the striker just missed his footing at the crucial time before Scotland believed they had grabbed the lead via McTominay.
Scott McTominay in disbelief after his goal was ruled out. Photo/SkySports
The goal was rejected by the referee after a VAR assessment, and Hendry was given the foul for an offside directly in front of goalkeeper Unai Simon. McTominay had scored with a free kick from what appeared to be an impossible angle, which had caused joyous celebrations in the away end.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Morata gave Spain the lead when he nodded in a cross from substitute player Navas into the goal at the front post.
Spain will now travel to Norway on Sunday knowing that a victory would put them ahead of Scotland, who has played the same amount of games and is now third in the group with 10 points.
If Norway loses against Spain, Scotland’s participation in Euro 2024 will be assured.
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