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| November 16, 2003 | Sunday | Ramazan 20, 1424 |
McFadden fires Scotland to brink of glory
GLASGOW, Nov 15: Holland were left on the brink of another humiliating international failure after James McFadden fired Scotland to a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Euro-2004 play-off at Hampden on Saturday.
On one of the most memorable afternoons in the illustrious history of Scotland’s national stadium, McFadden’s 22nd minute strike was enough to put the Scots within sight of a famous triumph.
Scotland rode their luck right to the final seconds of stoppage time when Rafael van der Vart’s powerful drive whistled inches past the post and Rab Douglas dived low to his right to smother Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final shot.
But Berti Vogts’ men also created enough chances of their own to suggest they are capable of snatching an away goal in Amsterdam that could make things extremely difficult for the Dutch on Wednesday night.
To make matters worse for the Dutch, Jaap Stam’s late booking means he will miss the return clash.
Scotland had survived a scare inside the first minute when Kluivert got in front of the back four to flick Andy van der Meyde’s free-kick from the left just wide of Douglas’s upright.
Kluivert might also have made more of a 7th minute chance created by van der Meyde’s run and cutback cross, the Barcelona striker’s hesitation allowing Dailly to snuff out the danger.
But the early signs of nerves among the home side quickly dissipated as the Scots started to hustle the Dutch out of their stride.
McFadden took advantage of a weak clearance from Jaap Stam to test van der Sar from distance. Stam was then lucky to escape a caution after upending the lively Neil McCann on the edge of the box.
Scotland’s pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when a McFadden corner was cleared straight back to him on the right.
The Everton striker fed Fletcher inside the area before running on to his back-heel return pass and unleashing a shot that beat van der Sar with the help of a wicked deflection off Frank de Boer.
Scotland lived even more dangerously in the final ten minutes of the first half, a period in which the Dutch might easily have scored three times.
The clearest cut chance fell to Marc Overmars, who blasted over from 16 yards after going round Gary Naysmith on the edge of the area.
Van Nistelrooy’s pressure then resulted in Douglas failing to gather a high-ball in his six yard box, forcing Lee Wilkie to clear off the line.—Reuters
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