Scotland keep World Cup dream alive

Scotland kept their World Cup dream alive with a 2-0 win over Macedonia at Hampden courtesy of Scott Brown’s first international goal and a superb solo effort from James McFadden.

Macedonia, inspired by Lazio’s Goran Pandev, had looked the better team in the first-half but a magnificent second-half showing sealed the three points for Scotland, who now need to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday to secure second place in Group Nine.

Brown, who caused controversy in the first-half when he refused to return the ball to the Macedonians from a drop-kick, headed Scotland into the lead.

McFadden scored the second after a mazy run starting in his own half ended with him rounding Jane Nikoloski to score and help ease the pressure on under-fire manager George Burley.

Scotland struggled to cope with Macedonia’s movement up front in the early stages and Goran Pandev in particular came in for some tough treatment from the Scottish defenders.

The first chance of the match fell to the Lazio striker when IIcho Naumoski laid the ball off to him in the box and Pandev’s thumping strike from just inside the area produced a fine save from Craig Gordon low down at his near post.

Things got worse for Scotland in the 13th minute when Burley’s game plan was thrown into disarray as Preston’s Callum Davidson limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced at left-back by Steven Whittaker.

Scotland slowly settled into the game and were soon presented with a chance. McFadden’s deflected free-kick fell to Graham Alexander who laid it off to Brown and his powerful strike just went wide.

Another set-piece in the 24th minute produced another chance when Brown spun his marker on the edge of the box after controlling a Darren Fletcher free-kick but his angled drive hit the side netting.

Macedonia always looked dangerous on the attack and Gordon was called into action in the 44th minute when Pandev’s shot took a deflection but the Sunderland keeper did enough to keep it out.

Trouble broke out on the stroke of half-time when the ball was put out of play for a Macedonian player to receive treatment.

Instead of giving the ball back to the visitors Brown whacked the ball off a Macedonian to win a corner.

The Macedonian players reacted furiously to Brown’s unsporting behaviour and in the resulting melee McFadden was booked, meaning he will miss Wednesday’s qualifier against Holland.

Scotland started the second-half brightly and McFadden should have given them the lead in the 50th minute.

Fletcher’s cross fell to the Birmingham City star on the edge of the box but after twisting and turning to create room for himself he mishit his shot to send it high over the bar.

At the other end Pandev was sent clean through on goal but Gordon did well to block his shot and clear the danger.

Macedonia survived a scare in the 52nd minute when Nikoloski’s save from a Kenny Miller shot spun across the face of goal but Igor Mitreski scrambled the ball away for a corner as Fletcher slid in.

Scotland’s pressure paid off when Brown gave Scotland the lead in the 56th minute.

Fletcher floated in a cross from the left and the Celtic star got in front of his marker to glance a header into the bottom corner of the net.

McFadden sealed the win in the 80th minute with a superb solo goal. The Birmingham star picked up the ball in his own half before beating one man and then running through the middle of Mitreski and Goce Sedloski.

He then raced into the box and rounded Nikoloski before stroking the ball into the empty net.