Scotland 3 Australia 1: match report

By Roddy Forsyth, at Easter Road

9:54PM BST 15 Aug 2012

A positive, if occasionally patchy performance, by Scotland saw them to an uplifting and – for the Scottish game as a whole – much needed victory over Australia at Easter Road on Wednesday night.

True, the visitors contributed to their own misfortune with a self inflicted wound by way of Jason Davidson's second-half own goal, but that maladroit intervention was book ended by the rare sight of two Scotland forwards – Jordan Rhodes and Ross McCormack – putting the ball into the correct net.

Although he is physically no colossus, Rhodes stood tall as the Scots' lone dedicated forward and demonstrated his predatory instinct with the quality of the header which levelled Mark Bresciano's eye-catching opener.

Rhodes was permitted to savour a standing ovation when he made way for McCormack and the bonus was that the Leeds United man also displayed his eye for goal when he gathered possession 25 yards out and skipped away from both Australian central defenders before striking home a low diagonal shot.

It would be unwise to assume too much encouragement ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifiers next month, especially since the Scots are in a tough group, but after the events of the last few months it can be said that his small mercy will be greeted with much thanks.

There were storm clouds over Leith – not unusually for a home team at Easter Road in recent times – as a torrential downpour swept in from the Firth of Forth an hour before kick-off, a circumstance that alarmed the Scottish Football Association officials who had hoped for a healthy walk-up attendance.

However, if the Socceroos were not accompanied by their accustomed sunshine, they were backed by a raucous support and, as kick-off approached, the Tartan Army ranks swelled substantially enough to generate a lively atmosphere inside the ground.

The upbeat feeling was reinforced by Scotland's bright start and, in particular, the sharpness and appetite of Rhodes, who was sought out by James Morrison with a cross from the right flank but the Huddersfield striker could not tame the bounce to get his shot away.

Moments later a swirling cross from Charlie Adam curled just beyond the 22 year-old's forehead as the Scottish support responded with acclaim to his manifest eagerness.

Rhodes was paired in attack with Steven Naismith, who spent most of last season on Rangers' treatment table after suffering the second cruciate ligament injury of his career against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in October and the forward, now with Everton, looked uninhibited by his former misfortune as he attempted a speculative shot from distance, taken cleanly by Mark Schwarzer.

Matters proceeded in much the same pleasing fashion for the Scots until the 20-minunte mark approached, at which point the Australian side – rated 22 places higher in the Fifa rankings – suddenly demonstrated their attacking instincts with a swift break along their left flank.

Robbie Kruse went for the dead ball line, catching Andy Webster dozing – but allowed the ball to go out of play – before he directed a cutback into the path of Brett Holman, who shot from close range only to see his effort strike Danny Fox's arm below the crossbar, evidently behind the goal line.

However, the Norwegian referee was either unsighted or unconvinced by the Aussies' claim for a penalty kick.

Scotland's relief was, it proved, premature. The clearance from the corner fell straight to Bresciano, fully 35 yards out and he struck it straight back on the volley to leave Allan McGregor utterly beaten.

The Besiktas goalkeeper – another player who was part of the mass exodus from Ibrox in the wake of Rangers' financial collapse – suffered another setback soon afterwards when he picked up an injury which forced him to limp from the field to be replaced by Matt Gilks, for the Blackpool man's first full cap.

A second enforced change had to be made by Craig Levein when Morrison signalled to the bench that he was in discomfort, with Shaun Maloney taking over from the West Brom midfielder.

Under the circumstances, the Scots' recovery of momentum was impressive, with Adam prominent in the midfield regrouping but it was Rhodes who provided the Tartan Army with their hearts' desire only two minutes after Morrison's departure when he plundered a fine equaliser.

Fox was the architect when he romped along the left wing to deliver an appetising cross towards the heart of the Australian box.

Rhodes was equal to the challenge, stooping to bullet a glanced header away from Schwarzer and into the far corner of the net.

Their morale restored, Scotland were value for the draw they took into the dressing room at the interval and, if there was a degree of unforeseen luck about the goal that put them ahead midway through the second half, Levein's players could justifiably consider that their steady progress upfield merited some reward.

Once again it was a Fox cross that forced the breakthrough, although it was one of Australia's three half time substitutes – Davidson – who planted the ball behind another, the Reading goalkeeper, Adam Federici, with a header that flew irretrievably beyond his colleague.

Match details

SCOTLAND (4-5-1): McGregor (Besiktas); Hutton (Aston Villa), Webster (Hearts), Berra (Wolverhampton), Fox (Southampton); Snodgrass (Norwich City), Caldwell (Wigan), Adam (Liverpool), Morrison (West Brom) Naismith (Everton); Rhodes (Huddersfield).
Subs: Gilks (Blackpool) for McGregor 22; Maloney (Wigan) for Morrison 27; Martin (Norwich) for Hutton 67; McCormack (Leeds) for Rhodes 67; Mulgrew (Celtic) for Fox 69, Black (Rangers) for Caldwell 87.
Not used: Marshall (Cardiff City, g), Goodwillie (Blackburn), Philips (Blackpool), Cowie (Cardiff), Bannan (Aston Villa).

Australia (4-4-2): Schwarzer (Federici h-t); Williams, Neill, Ognenovski (McGowan 79), Carney (Davidson 60); Wilkshire, Valeri, Bresciano (Jedinak h-t), Kruse; Brosque (Thompson 84), Holman (McDonald h-t).
Subs: Langerak (g), Kilkenny. Booked: Kruse.

Referee: T Harald Hagen (Norway).

Taken from telegraph.co.uk