Scotland denied victory by late Poland penalty

Krzysztof Piatek’s injury-time penalty gave Poland a late 1-1 draw with Scotland at Hampden Park.

In a hastily-arranged friendly match after the Scots’ 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine was postponed until June, there was little between the teams until the 68th minute when Kieran Tierney headed in a free-kick from captain John McGinn for his first international goal.

It looked like the Scots were headed for a seventh successive win until  the third of three added minutes when Irish referee Robert Hennessy judged Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon had fouled Platek inside the box and the substitute slotted in his spot kick.

Steve Clarke’s side will play Austria away next week in the second match of their friendly double header, with Wales waiting in the play-off final in Cardiff should the Scots eventually get past Ukraine.

In the absence of Covid-affected captain Andy Robertson, midfielder McGinn was handed the armband as he came up against Aston Villa team-mate Matty Cash.

Nathan Patterson was installed at right-back despite his struggle to make an impact at Everton since joining from Rangers in January but a strong Scotland side included Scott McTominay, Grant Hanley and Tierney in a back three with Che Adams leading the line.

First-time call-ups Ross Stewart, Craig Halkett and Aaron Hickey were on the bench as was Poland’s star striker Robert Lewandowski as new boss Czeslaw Michniewicz kept an eye on their World Cup play-off against either Sweden or Czech Republic next Tuesday,

There was a huge Polish support among a healthy Hampden crowd of 39,090 for a game where £10 from each ticket was going to support UNICEF’s efforts in Ukraine.

The vociferous away fans added to the atmosphere but it was the