24/03/07
Glasgow | Scorers: Kris Boyd (12), Shota Arveladze (42), Craig Beattie (88)
Scotland 2-1 Georgia
A late winner from Celtic's Craig Beattie gave a determined Scotland side victory over Georgia, and saw all-time Unofficial Football World Champions Scotland become current Unofficial Football World Champions for the first time in 40 years. Shota Arveladze had threatened to spoil his former Rangers manager Alex McLeish's day, equalising Kris Boyd's opener. But Scotland's impressive second half display was enough to deprive the Georgians of the title.
Rangers striker Boyd opened the scoring in the 12th minute, heading Gary Teale's pinpoint cross low past goalkeeper George Lomaia. Georgia created few chances, but Arveladze, now at AZ Alkmaar, stunned the sell-out Hampden Park crowd with a brilliant diving header three minutes before half-time.
The entertaining second half saw chances for both sides, with Kobiashvili and Boyd both going close. Boyd was replaced by Beattie in the 75th minute, and it was the subsitute who was the hero, poking home the winner from a Kenny Miller flick-on with just two minutes left on the clock. The match was also a Euro 2008 qualifier, and the three points keep Scotland at the top of Group B. Scotland are now the current and all-time Unofficial Football World Champions. On Wednesday they will take on official world champions Italy.
Scotland: Gordon, Graham Alexander, Weir, McManus, Naysmith, Teale, Ferguson, Hartley, McCulloch, Miller, Boyd. Subs: McGregor, Murty, Dailly, Severin, Beattie, Maloney, Brown. Georgia: Lomaia, Khizanishvili, Salukvadze, Shashiashvili, Eliava, Kobiashvili, Menteshashvili, Tskitishvili, Burduli, Arveladze, Demetradze. Subs: Revishvili, Kvirkvelia, Iashvili,Gogua, Mujiri, Ashvetia, Siradze.
