Che Adams and Scott McTominay on target as Steve Clarke’s side make life difficult against Belarus

19:17, 12 Oct 2025Updated 20:39, 12 Oct 2025

Scotland’s Che Adams celebrates with Andy Robertson after scoring to make it 1-0

After a 27-year wait Scotland are now just 180 minutes away from a World Cup.

But if they’re as tense and nerve-shredding as the 90-odd here at Hampden – some of the Tartan Army might not see next summer.

Steve Clarke’s side finally saw off Group C minnows Belarus thanks to goals from Che Adams and Scott McTominay.

But that doesn’t tell half the story of an anxious encounter which had the home crowd shattered by full-time.

The victory kept the Scots unbeaten in qualification and on track for a first World Cup appearance since 1998.

With two games to go – a double-header against Greece and Denmark next month – they’re in charge of their own destiny.

But they’ll have to play a whole lot better than this to get there.

After a ropey start, Adams settled things down when drilled home a Jack Hendry pass.

But they failed to build on it and had to rely on VAR to rule out a Belarus equaliser as fans were put through the wringer.

Eventually, McTominay grabbed a second with six minutes left. But even then, there was work to do.

The visitors made it 2-1 in stoppage time through sub Hleb Kuchkoto who set up a nail-biting finale.

But Scotland hung on, despite some jeers from supporters at the end. Here are Record Sport’s 5 talking points:

Job done

This wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it was horrible at times to watch.

But ultimately, Clarke won’t care because it’s another three points in the bag and one step closer to the promised land of a World Cup.

In his landmark game as Scotland gaffer, he couldn’t afford any slip-ups in Group C after getting off to such a positive start.

This game and victory won’t live long in the memory.

But that won’t matter if the Tartan Army is in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

That’s the end goal and Clarke’s boys are now just two games away from achieving it.

This win – as hard fought as it was – gives them a golden opportunity going into the final qualifying double-header in November against Greece in Athens and Denmark at Hampden.

They’ll have to play better than they did here to get the job done.

But for now, the dream lives on. It’s in the players’ hands and they have to go and grasp it next month.

Sure-fire Che

There’s a constant debate around the national team about who Clarke’s first-choice striker should be.

Plenty of punters want to see Lyndon Dykes start up top, while others fancy the likes of Lawrence Shankland – who didn’t even make the squad – or young Kieron Bowie.

But Che Adams doesn’t get the credit he deserves in a dark blue shirt and he proved his worth again here.

It’s not easy playing that lone front-man role for Scotland.

Scotland’s Che Adams celebrates scoring to make it 1-0

But the Torino star runs himself into the ground for his adopted country and there’s a reason why Clarke keeps picking him.

When he gets decent service, he’s a terrific finisher.

After a ropey start against Belarus, we badly needed a goal to calm the nerves and our number 10 delivered it.

He produced an excellent all-round centre-forward display here.

His touch and shot to put the Scots 1-0 up were out of the top drawer – and vital to securing the victory.

VAR drama

This was a strange type of game anyway but even more so by the fact it was punctuated by VAR checks and delays – with Scotland benefiting a few times from the pitch side monitor.

Adams’ opening goal was initially ruled out for offside but after a check in the VAR hub, Romanian officials correctly told ref Marian Barbu to give it.

That got Clarke’s side off to a flier.

In the second half, they were hoping video footage would get them a spot kick when big defender Yegor Parkhomenko appeared to handle the ball in the box while tussling with Adams.

Scotland’s Che Adams puts the ball in the net but after a VAR review it is disallowed for handball

But after a ridiculously lengthy stoppage, the whistler checked the screens and awarded a free-kick AGAINST Clarke’s side.

A few moments later, Hampden was silent when Belarus thought they’d grabbed an equaliser through Evgeni Malashevich.

But thankfully for the Scots, VAR was on our side again.

After yet another look at the monitor, it was ruled that Scott McTominay had been fouled in the build-up so the goal was chalked off – and the Tartan Army could breathe again.

Believe in Ben

Scotland youngster Ben Gannon-Doak might not have been at his best against Greece and Belarus in terms of goals or assists.

In midweek when he was subbed off by Clarke he was disappointed with himself and shook his head as he trudged back to the dug-out.

Here, he was much better and had big defender Pavel Zabelin on toast at times in the first half.

The end product wasn’t quite there with Gannon-Doak as he skewed a couple of crosses or made the wrong decision with his pass.

But Scotland and Clarke have to keep believing in this kid.

Ben Gannon-Doak in action

He’s still only 19 and has time on his side.

More importantly, Gannon-Doak gives us something we haven’t had in years – searing pace and an ability to go past players.

He’s not the finished article but he never hides.

And he’s going to have a huge part to play in Scotland’s future – hopefully starting at the World Cup next summer.

Hampden heart-stoppers

It really shouldn’t be this nerve-wracking to secure a win over Belarus.

We all know the stakes are high in trying to reach a World Cup – and a victory was all that really mattered here.

But the Tartan Army had their hearts in their mouths far too often against the Group C minnows.

Remember, Denmark and Greece have taken six goals each already off this team.

Scotland Head Coach Steve Clarke takes charge of his 72nd match

And when Scotland beat them in Hungary last month with no fans in the ground, it was far more comfortable than this.

As much as Clarke’s side got the win they needed, the players must become more clinical and ruthless against teams like Belarus.

The visitors should never have been in the game, especially after Adams’ early opener.

But towards the end, it was nail-biting stuff

After starting the game really well, they had an equaliser ruled out by VAR in the second half.

It made the crowd super-anxious before McTominay’s clincher.