Scotland snatch dramatic late draw against Lithuania

James McArthur scored a late equaliser, but didn’t do enough to save Scotland’s blushes as they struggled to a dismal 1-1 draw at home to Lithuania.

Gordon Strachan’s side were dismal throughout and were fortunate to salvage a point from a match billed by many as must-win, with the Hampden Park crowd booing their team off the pitch at both half-time and full-time.

Lithuania had looked on course to claim all three points following Fiodor Cernych’s well-worked goal after 59 minutes, with the away side holding Scotland at arm’s length for the majority of the match. It wasn’t until the introduction of Leigh Griffths that the hosts started to carry any real threat.

McArthur saved a point with just minutes left to play, ghosting in to get on the end of a Grant Hanley flick-on from a long throw-in, finding the far corner of the net with a glancing header. But just how damaging will this result prove?

Strachan did his best to play this match down as a must-win fixture, but Scotland surely needed to win all their home games to stand any chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Now they have dropped two points to a poor Lithuania side it’s possible their chances of making it to Russia have been ended before they even really started. An atrocious result and performance to match.

Scotland lacked leaders when things were against them, but Robertson tried his best to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. The Hull City full back was a threat throughout down the left side and created most of Scotland’s goalscoring opportunities. This was a desperately poor performance by the home side, but Robertson did his best to try and ensure Scotland avoided an embarrassing result.

SCOTLAND - Marshall 5, Paterson 5, Martin 4, Hanley 6, Robertson 8, Bannan 5, Fletcher 5, Snodgrass 7, Ritchie 5, Burke 6, Martin 5. Subs - McArthur 7, Forrest 5, Griffiths 5.

LITHUANIA - Setkus 6, Vaitkunas 7, Freidgeimas 8, Girdvainis 8, Slavickas 7, Zulpa 5, Kuklys 6, Cernych 7, Novikovas 8, Valskis 6, Slivka 7. Subs - Andriuskevicius 5, Grigaravicius 5, Chvedukas 5.

15’ ANOTHER HANLEY HEADER! Ritchie picks out the centre back with another excellent delivery from a freekick. Hanley meets this one better, but sends his header wide of the target.

17’ SNODGRASS FREEKICK SHOT! The Hull City man lines up the set piece from the best part of 25 yards, but despite having the power on the effort it flashes past the target.

38’ BURKE GOES DOWN! The 19-year-old surges into the Lithuanian penalty area and goes down under the challenge of a defender, but the referee correctly shakes his head.

47’ MARSHALL MAKES THE SAVE! Lithuania create their best chance of the match so far, with Novikovas shooting across goal, but the Scotland goalkeeper makes the save.

59’ GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Lithuania: The away side have taken the lead! Hanley was left standing by some excellent pass-and-go play around the edge of the box and Cernych smashed a finish past Marshall.

73’ HUGE CHANCE FOR LITHUANIA! I think it was Slivka who shot wide of the Scotland goal, but it was a long ball right down the middle that completely caught out the home defence.

79’ GRIFFITHS SHOULD HAVE SCORED! Snodgrass' cross into the area split the two defenders and found the Celtic striker, but he directed his powerful header straight at the keeper.

89’ GOAL! Scotland 1-1 Lithuania: Scotland have equalised! A long throw in is flicked on by Hanley and McArthur is on hand to send a header/shoulder past the Lithuanian goalkeeper. Salvation!

90+5’ HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN? Bannan's corner kick caused mayhem and Lithuania managed to clear Martin's header from underneath their own goalline. That was almost it.

Scotland have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight qualifying matches.

10 of Scotland's previous 11 goals against Lithuania have been scored after half-time.

Scotland haven’t won their first two games of a qualification campaign in 10 years.