Scotland the brave edge out Lithuania in thriller
Scotland edged out Lithuania 3-2 on Day 3 at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup to record their fourth victory on the bounce at the tournament.
In a nail-biting, end-to-end encounter that really could have gone either way, Scotland - Men’s champions in 2007 and 2011 - showed great spirit to turn around a 1-0 deficit at half-time to win it as the game looked like it could be heading to penalties.
A frantic start saw Scotland strike the bar before Lithuania were denied the opener by a smart save by the Scotland goalkeeper. Scotland then sent a shot wide of the post off a good move before attack turned to defence as Scotland threw their bodies on the line to block two Lithuania shots from close range. Another brilliant save down low to his left from the Scotland keeper prevented Lithuania once again from going in front before Lithuania did just that off the back of a slick passing move. A Scotland player then found themselves clean through on goal only to shoot wide of the target.
Into the second half, Scotland defended valiantly to keep Lithuania from extending their lead before a second goal did come after a strong shot from a quick counter attack crept under the Scotland keeper and into the net. Searching for a way back into the tie, a quick Scotland freekick produced a great save from the Lithuania keeper, before a good passing move saw Scotland’s Ali get them on the scoresheet. A fantastic diving save from the Scotland keeper thwarted Lithuania from restoring a two-goal lead before an assist off the wall saw Ali get his second to draw his team level. With a penalty shoot out looming, Ali completed his hat-trick, reacting the quickest from a ricochet off a challenge to slide a shot home past the Lithuania keeper near the edge of the box for the win.
Coach Derek Ferguson said: “What the boys have got is great character. We missed a few chances but we just told the players, ‘Be patient, keep going and you’ll win the game’ and that came to fruition. I’m really proud of them because they were a really tight-knit group against a hard, physical side.
“I think the first day there were always going to be a wee bit of nerves that were going to kick in, not just for the players but from the management as well. So we got through that. That was a real physical test as well. We are trying to get the players to relax a little bit more because we believe in them. We believe we’ve got football players there. There is a physicality to the game and they are handling it ever so well.”
Words by Craig Williams | Photos by John Anderson