Pocognoli celebrates first win as 10-man Scotland beat North Macedonia

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robertson-andrew/6e7Be9VI/"]Andrew Robertson[/a] started the game like a man determined to mark his 100th international appearance with a goal, forcing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dimitrievski-stole/2axfsTHA/"]Stole Dimitrievski[/a] to make a smart stop with his second shot inside the opening five minutes.[/p][p]However, just seconds later, the experienced shot-stopper was beaten by Kieron Bowie’s first goal at international level.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="d35e1d81-2d6d-4cf0-88e8-161e44fb1449" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="b24749c1-9e5a-4a7a-a9cf-7f763df9ab27" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]The Sassuolo striker received possession with his back to goal, quickly swivelled and created a yard of space to drive a precise shot into the bottom corner, bringing an end to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a]’s four-game goal drought.[/p][p]Robertson quickly resumed his search for a goal on his milestone day with two more shots before the game had even reached the 15-minute mark.[/p][embed guid="0432fbfd-6fe3-49e9-9da8-db2f7d0fc1fc" url="https://x.com/ScotlandNT/status/2106486292313739264" social-type="twitter" /][p]Chances continued to flow as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/north-macedonia/GrTQ3oHB/"]North Macedonia[/a] struggled to contend with Scotland’s relentless pressure, as Ben Gannon-Doak blazed over from a great position before Bowie saw his goalbound effort blocked by the last defender - just moments before North Macedonia boss Goce Sedloski made two changes as a sign of his clear frustration with the one-sided half. [/p][p]With Scotland still searching for the insurance of a second goal, Gannon-Doak made a purposeful start to the second period, forcing Dimitrievski into two stops on either side of winning a penalty, only for the decision to be harshly overturned as the officials ruled the winger initiated contact with the defender.[/p][embed guid="51084e75-870f-4b77-b332-e1a985332ad6" url="https://x.com/ScotlandNT/status/2106485287694012824" social-type="twitter" /][p]Scotland’s frustration with VAR soon subsided when the referee pointed to the spot after Bojan Miovski was penalised for a handball infringement following a trip to the monitor. Assuming responsibility, John McGinn kept his cool to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and roll home his 22nd international goal.[/p][p]The Tartan Army were dealt a late setback when Scott McKenna received his marching orders for following through on Agon Elezi in a full-blooded challenge.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="5605b073-ec91-4639-b5d1-faa618eaad57" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f03f09ed-b6c6-4857-90b5-a8f4c4ca24f8" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Crucially for the visitors, they managed to see out the closing stages with minimal fuss to move level on points with second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/slovenia/tfMf3PoO/"]Slovenia[/a] in Group B1.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcginn-john/rgGnzD2e/"]John McGinn[/a] (Scotland)[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/north-macedonia-GrTQ3oHB/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=WSkBPP9e"]Click here for all the stats of the match[/a].[/p]