YFS
Scotland certainly got the job done against the Group D leaders, the Czech Republic, after putting in a professional performance, with their goals coming in both halves.
As the game got underway, chances for both sides were of a luxury with the two sides largely feeling each other out. As the game matured you could begin to see the two sides begin to input their tactics on to the game.
Scotland went down the route of playing more higher risk passes up to their lone striker Fraser Hornby, which at first glance would seem as though it was a failing system, but the more and more it was tried the clearer it became that with Lewis Ferguson and Allan Campbell running the channels and at times narrowly missing out on Hornby's flick ons, it was only a matter of time they would get the right ball.
The Czechs opted for a more patient approach, with slick shorter passes, trying to play through Scotland's press and produce chances. However a common theme throughout the game was McCrorie's exceptional screening of the back four which limited the spaces that the Czechs could explore with their link up play, largely being forced down the flanks and playing hopeful crosses which were lapped up by the Scotland centre-backs; Lewis Mayo and Tom McIntyre.
At the fifteen-minute mark, the Czechs looped a cross into the Scotland box which was primarily spilled by the goalkeeper Doohan but recovered. This may have encouraged the Czechs to test the Ross County keeper, with crosses but they'd soon find that this would be a dead-end with Doohan putting in a fine, commanding performance in this match.
Despite the pressure, Scotland finally got the break they had been searching for, as they opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Nathan Patterson latched on to a sloppy throw from Soucek and the Rangers youngster quickly played a one-two with Hornby giving time for the striker to set himself for the return pass, which he received and on his second touch placed past the keeper.
Three minutes, the Czechs tried to fire a reply. They got themselves a free-kick in shooting distance, following a Lewis Ferguson handball. Czech captain Michal Sadilek duly stepped up, firing a shot that called Doohan into action. The keeper made a great save tipping it away from goal and more importantly away from the onrushing David Zima who was lurking at the back post, ready to dispatch the rebound.