Scotland 3-0 Ukraine: John McGinn & Lyndon Dykes double earn vital Nations League win

Scotland moved to the top of the Nations League group with a crucial victory over Ukraine.

Three months on from a deflating loss to the same opposition, John McGinn swept in a deserved 70th-minute opener after the Scottish side had passed up a number of clear-cut opportunities.

The Scots leapfrog the Ukrainians by winning a crucial game thanks to two late goals by substitute Lyndon Dykes.

The first of the two remaining games is the visit of the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, followed by a potential decider with the Ukrainians in Krakow.

• Reaction & as it happened

The build-up to the play-off three months ago was dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In their first competitive game since the conflict began, Ukraine shocked the Scots, who went on to lose to Ireland and then to Armenia.

Looking to right the wrongs of a two-week spell which he felt "stalled" his side's progress, the Scotland boss challenged his players to regain their "momentum" at Hampden, a place where they have lost just once in their last fifteen games.

After a minute's applause in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, which was widely observed but mixed with booing, it was Ukraine who carried the early initiative as they exploited space in behind a Scotland defence.

After a shaky opening 10 minutes, Scotland composed themselves and stamped their authority with penetrating play that first saw Che Adams strike straight at Anatoliy Trubin before StuartArmstrong forced theUkraine keeper to save to his left.

Ryan Christie and McGinn failed to hit the target with their heads, but there was a lull in the game due to an injury to Nathan Patterson.

The first half ended in controversy when Valeriy Bondar only received a yellow for wiping out Adams while he was on goal. It could have been a goal scoring chance. It could have been a violent act. The only punishments were a free kick and a booking.

Scotland kept up their relentless pressure even though they were afraid that Ukraine would take control after the break.

McGinn pulled a shot into the bottom-right corner after a host of glaring chances were passed up.

The Ukrainians felt McGinn won the ball with an unfair - but trademark - kick to his backside before hitting. There were no issues with the goals that followed, as Dykes rose highest to guide in two fine headed goals.

Player of the match - John McGinn

Clarke makes case for defence - analysis

It looks like Steve Clark is willing to return to a back four. For the first time since November, the Scotland manager deviated from a three and the central pair of Jack and Scott impressed.

There is an obvious negative about the injury to Patterson, but Scotland have more depth in the right-back area, as evidenced by the performance of the substitute player.

When Andy Robertson returns to full fitness, the issue is what to do with the defensive set-up. It's not a bad thing to have those kind of options, and the flexibility that comes with them can only be a positive.

Match stats

• Scotland have beaten Ukraine for the first time since October 2007 (3-1 in a Euro 2008 qualifier), and kept their first clean sheet against them.
• Ukraine suffered their joint second-heaviest Nations League defeat, after their 4-0 loss to Spain in September 2020 - the only previous time they've failed to score in a game in the competition.
• Scotland remain unbeaten in their seven home Nations League matches (W6 D1) - no other team has played more in the competition without losing.
• Scotland had eight shots on target, with six of those in the second half - the most they've recorded after the interval since October 2019 against San Marino (also six).
• McGinn has scored 14 goals and assisted a further six in his 35 games for Scotland under Steve Clarke - at least 10 more than any other player in that time.
• Dykes became the first substitute to score a brace for Scotland since Chris Burke against Bulgaria in May 2006.

What's next?

Scotland will play Ireland at home on Saturday in their final Nations League group game, before travelling to Krakow to face Ukranian on Tuesday.

• ScotlandScotlandScotland
• UkraineUkraineUkraine

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Formation 4-2--3-1.

• 1Gordon
• 2PattersonSubstituted forHickeyat 26'minutes
• 13Hendry
• 15McKenna
• 6TierneySubstituted forTaylorat 86'minutes
• 4McTominay
• 8McGregor
• 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forFraserat 76'minutes
• 7McGinn
• 11ChristieSubstituted forMcLeanat 85'minutes
• 10AdamsSubstituted forDykesat 77'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Taylor
• 5Porteous
• 9Dykes
• 12Kelly
• 14Gilmour
• 16Ralston
• 19Fraser
• 20Jack
• 21McCrorie
• 22Hickey
• 23McLean

Formation 4-1-5-1 is formed.

• 1Trubin
• 21Karavaev
• 2BondarBooked at 45mins
• 22Matviyenko
• 3Mykhailichenko
• 6StepanenkoBooked at 18minsSubstituted forSydorchukat 45'minutesBooked at 83mins
• 7YarmolenkoSubstituted forTsygankovat 68'minutes
• 17PikhalyonokSubstituted forZubkovat 83'minutes
• 8MalinovskyiBooked at 90mins
• 10MudrykSubstituted forIgnatenkoat 84'minutes
• 11DovbykSubstituted forYaremchukat 67'minutesBooked at 71mins

Substitutes

• 4Kryvtsov
• 5Sydorchuk
• 9Yaremchuk
• 12Lunin
• 13Kacharaba
• 14Ignatenko
• 15Tsygankov
• 16Mykolenko
• 18Tymchyk
• 20Zubkov
• 23Riznyk

1. The match ended with a zero.

2. The second half ended with Scotland winning.

3. The attempt was not successful. John McGinn missed his shot from outside the box.

4. The yellow card is displayed.

5. The foul was committed by Ruslan Malinovskyi.

6. Scott McTominay won a free kick.

7. The attempt was not successful. Ryan Fraser's shot is close but misses to the left. Greg Taylor was assisted by another person.

8. There is a corner in Scotland. Valeriy Bondar was in the match.

9. The goal has been scored. Scotland defeated Ukraine by a score of three to one. Lyndon Dykes headed from the center of the box to the bottom of the box. Ryan Fraser assisted with a cross.

10. There is a corner in Scotland. Valeriy Bondar was in the match.

11. There was a substitution in Scotland. Greg Taylor is the new guy.

12. There was a substitution in Scotland. Ryan Christie was replaced by Kenny Mclean.

13. The foul was committed by Ruslan Malinovskyi.

14. A free kick is won by John McGinn.

15. There was a substitution inUkraine. Mykhailo Mudryk is no longer with us.

16. There was a substitution inUkraine.

17. There is a yellow card for a bad foul.

18. Serhii had a foul.

19. There is a free kick in the attacking half.

20. The goal has been scored. Scotland defeated Ukraine by a score of 2-0. Lyndon Dykes headed from the center of the box to the bottom of the box. Ryan Fraser assisted with a cross.