Türkiye 2-1 Scotland
International Friendly
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Diyarbakir Stadium, Diyarbakir

Türkiye: Kabak (40'), Under (49')

Scotland: John McGinn (62')

A John McGinn wonder-goal wasn’t enough to prevent Turkey edging out a 2-1 win in Diyarbakir.

Ozan Kabak and Cengiz Under fired Türkiye into a 2-0 lead before McGinn’s dramatic intervention, and the home side were able to hold out for the victory despite a spirited second-half performance from Scotland. 

TEAM NEWS

Fit-again pair Andy Robertson and Grant Hanley – who missed the last camp through injury – were recalled to Steve Clarke’s starting line-up.

Lewis Ferguson – back in the squad after some fine form in Serie A with Bologna – was handed a place on the bench alongside fresh face Calvin Ramsay, with the Scottish FA JD Performance School graduate enjoying his first taste of the senior set-up.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was awarded his 74th cap in the 700th match of a distinguished professional career. 

AS IT HAPPENED

This match represented the first time the Turkish national team had played at the Diyarbakir Stadium and a near-capacity crowd had the place rocking long before kick-off – despite the heavy rain that left the pitch looking a bit worse for wear.

Scotland started on the front foot, with Lyndon Dykes heading over from a Robertson cross inside a minute.

At the other end, Gordon was sharp to deny Hakan Calhanoglu’s powerful strike.

With nine minutes on the clock, a teasing cross from Stuart Armstrong was just out of reach for Dykes.

Gordon breathed a sigh of relief when Kabak’s header from a corner came cracking back off the bar before the ball was cleared to safety.

Kobak, however, was not to be denied and nudged the hosts in front five minutes from the break, as he headed home from Calhanoglu’s curling free-kick.

Scotland shuffled the pack at half-time, with Ramsay and Scott McKenna introduced for Ryan Fraser and Grant Hanley, but it was the home side who hit the ground running.

They doubled their lead on 49 minutes when a swift counter-attack resulted in Under slotting the ball home.

Scotland were in search of a spark, and they found it in McGinn after 62 minutes.

Driving from his own half, McGinn shook off dogged opposition before unleashing a fierce low strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance.

The goal takes McGinn to 15 for his country – joint-seventh-top scorer in the all-time list alongside Andy Wilson.

Three minutes later Ryan Jack and Ryan Christie took over from Billy Gilmour and Stuart Armstrong.

Christie made an instant impact with a beautiful searching pass for Scott McTominay, only for his first-time shot to be blocked.

With 11 minutes left, Scotland made their last two changes, as Dykes and McTominay were withdrawn for Jacob Brown and Ferguson.

In the dying minutes Christie looked to have salvaged a draw, but his fizzing strike flew just over the bar. 

NEXT UP

Scotland are back in action in March with the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers, with Cyprus up at Hampden Park on March 25 before Spain travel to Glasgow three days later.

TEAMS

Türkiye: Cakir, Soyuncu, Kabak, Ozkacar, Celik, Can Kahveci (Akturkoglu 81), Kokcu (S. Ozcan 45), Kadioglu (Elmali 34), Under, Tosun (Unal 69), Calhanoglu (Turuc 69).

Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Alemdar, Akaydin, B. Ozcan, Sinik, Yuksek, Bozok, Bulut, Guler, Sanuc.

Scotland: Gordon, Fraser (Ramsay 45), Hendry, Hanley (McKenna 46), Tierney, Robertson, McTominay (Ferguson 79), Gilmour (Jack 67), Armstrong (Christie 67), McGinn, Dykes (Brown 79).

Unused substitutes: Kelly, McCrorie, Porteous.