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Scots wrest Euro berth leaving Netherlands stunned
Glasgow, Nov 16: Scotland staked their claim to a place at Euro 2004 on Saturday (November 15) when they upset the Netherlands 1-0 in the first leg of their playoff at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
Glasgow, Nov 16: Scotland staked their claim to a place at Euro 2004 on Saturday (November 15) when they upset the Netherlands 1-0 in the first leg of their playoff at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
Winger James McFadden fired Scotland's winner in the 22nd minute when he smacked home a deflected shot after working a neat one-two with 19-year-old Darren Fletcher.
The Scots then had to weather intense Dutch pressure to hold on to their win to give Berti Vogts's unfancied side a slender advantage going into next Wednesday's (November 19) second leg at the Amsterdam Arena.
Hampden was awash with Scottish saltires as the home support celebrated their goal but the Dutch could have levelled within minutes as Robert Douglas saved at close range from Jaap Stam's header Scotland continued to live dangerously towards half-time, with Scottish defender Gary Naysmith making a great block from a header by Frank de Boer.
The pressure continued after half-time as Patrick Kluivert's cushioned header saw Andy van der Meyde rattle the bar with a volley after 63 minutes.
Substitute Clarence Seedorf burst through nine minutes later but blazed over the bar and then in the last seconds of the match, Ruud van Nistelrooy's angled shot was grasped by Douglas.
It was Scotland's first competitive win against the Netherlands since a 3-2 victory at the 1978 World Cup finals.
A late booking for Stam means he will be suspended for the second leg.
Teams: Scotland: 1-Robert Douglas; 2-Jackie McNamara, 3-Gary Naysmith, 4-Steven Pressley, 5-Lee Wilkie; 6-Barry Ferguson, 7-Darren Fletcher, 8-Christian Dailly, 9-Paul Dickov (17-Kenny Miller 66), 10-James McFadden (18-Don Hutchison 89), 11-Neil McCann (14-Stephen Pearson 71).
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Andre Ooijer, 3-Jaap Stam, 4-Frank de Boer, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst (14-Clarence Seedorf 45); 6-Philip Cocu, 7-Andy van der Meyde, 8-Edgar Davids (15-Rafael van der Vaart 61); 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 10-Patrick Kluivert (18-Roy Makaay 77), 11-Marc Overmars. Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
Bureau Report
Substitute Clarence Seedorf burst through nine minutes later but blazed over the bar and then in the last seconds of the match, Ruud van Nistelrooy's angled shot was grasped by Douglas.
It was Scotland's first competitive win against the Netherlands since a 3-2 victory at the 1978 World Cup finals.
A late booking for Stam means he will be suspended for the second leg.
Teams: Scotland: 1-Robert Douglas; 2-Jackie McNamara, 3-Gary Naysmith, 4-Steven Pressley, 5-Lee Wilkie; 6-Barry Ferguson, 7-Darren Fletcher, 8-Christian Dailly, 9-Paul Dickov (17-Kenny Miller 66), 10-James McFadden (18-Don Hutchison 89), 11-Neil McCann (14-Stephen Pearson 71).
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Andre Ooijer, 3-Jaap Stam, 4-Frank de Boer, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst (14-Clarence Seedorf 45); 6-Philip Cocu, 7-Andy van der Meyde, 8-Edgar Davids (15-Rafael van der Vaart 61); 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 10-Patrick Kluivert (18-Roy Makaay 77), 11-Marc Overmars. Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
Bureau Report