Scotland 2-2 Poland

Opponents > Poland > Scotland 2-2 Poland, 2015

Scotland went into the Poland match confident of qualifying for the play-offs.  If Scotland were to get a better result against Poland than Ireland would at home to Germany, a victory over Gibraltar would be enough.  The Poles were confident though as Robert Lewandowski was bang on form for both club and country.  That form was to continue as the Poles took the lead after only three minutes when a pass sliced open the Scotland defence to find Lewandowski, who looked marginally offside, and he beat Marshall at his near post.  Just before the half hour mark, Poland almost doubled their lead when Blaszczykowski hit a low shot that went just past the post.  Just before half time Hampden errupted, when Matt Ritchie received a pass from Forrest just outside the penalty area, and he hit a superb shot that flew past Fabianski to make it 1-1.  Right after kick off for the second half, Marshall pulled off a great save to prevent Milik from scoring.  Scotland then came close when Whittaker played a great ball into the box for Naismith, but he could not direct the ball on target.  Just after the hour mark, Steven Fletcher put Scotland ahead when he collected a pass from Ritchie at the right hand side of the box, before he curled the ball past Fabianski to score a superb goal.  With it goalless in Dublin, things were looking bright for Scotland.  That took a setback when Ireland took the lead against Germany with 20 minutes remaining.  A victory for Ireland would still leave Scotland with a chance, as long as they could hold on against Poland.  In the fourth minute of injury time at the end, things came crashing down for Scotland, when they conceded a free kick on the edge of the box.  The resulting free kick took a deflection and hit the post, before it rolled along the goalline and Lewandowski forced it over to make it 2-2 with the last kick of the ball.  With Ireland beating Germany 1-0, Scotland's hopes of qualification were over.