Match ends, Poland 2, Scotland 2.
Poland 2-2 Scotland
By Alasdair Lamont
BBC Scotland in Warsaw
- From the section Football
- First away point for Scots in Group D
- The draw moves them onto four points
- Strachan's side are level with Germany
- Poland and Ireland lead group on seven
A ferociously-struck Arkadiusz Milik equaliser denied Scotland a famous win in Warsaw, but a hard-fought point was an impressive result for the visitors.
Poland threw everything at the Scots in the second half after going 2-1 behind to a clever Steven Naismith finish.
Earlier, Krzysztof Maczynski's cooly-converted opener was cancelled out by Shaun Maloney's equally calm strike.
But Milik earned the Poles a deserved point and Kamil Grosicki almost struck a winner when his effort struck a post.
The result ensured Poland kept pace with the Republic of Ireland at the summit of a delicately-poised Group D after Martin O'Neill's side drew 1-1 with Germany.
The world champions - who were beaten in Warsaw on Saturday - are level with Scotland three points back, with the Irish travelling to Celtic Park in November.
Another surprise appeared to be on the cards when Gordon Strachan's side took the lead early in the second half on Tuesday, but there was to be no repeat of the friendly win in March.
There was, however, plenty of poise about Scotland's performance, a trait that is becoming more and more evident under Strachan.
And though they were put under significant pressure as the game wore on, a combination of stout defending and poor finishing meant that they left with a point.
It will be a cherished point, too, given that Milik had already passed up three chances before he scored and Robert Lewandowski had a shot saved superbly by Marshall.
The Poles came into the match in buoyant mood and their confidence was enhanced after a rare Scottish defensive lapse allowed them to take the lead.
Alan Hutton the guilty party, his heavy touch on the edge of his own box presenting Maczynski with the chance and the midfielder took it in clinical fashion, side-footing off the inside of Marshall's left-hand post and over the line.
But the home fans had scarcely stopped celebrating when the Scots drew level with a wonderfully crafted goal.
Steven Fletcher switched play to Ikechi Anya on the left and the winger's cutback was slotted expertly past Wojciech Szczesny by Maloney from 10 yards.
Steven Whittaker was a surprise inclusion ahead of Andrew Robertson at left-back but the defender prevented a seemingly certain second Polish goal, nipping in ahead of Lewandowski to clear with the goal gaping.
That seemed to have paved the way for Naismith to give the Scots victory when he guided a James Morrison free-kick past Szczesny, but Milik had other ideas, ripping a strike past Marshall after Artur Jedrzejczyk's reverse pass.
Line-ups
Poland
- 1Szczesny
- 20Piszczek
- 4Szukala
- 15Glik
- 3Jedrzejczyk
- 11GrosickiSubstituted forZyroat 89'minutes
- 8KrychowiakBooked at 60mins
- 16Maczynski
- 5SobotaSubstituted forMilaat 63'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 7Milik
- 9Lewandowski
Substitutes
- 2Cionek
- 6Wojtkowiak
- 10Teodorczyk
- 12Boruc
- 13Rybus
- 14Wawrzyniak
- 17Olkowski
- 18Mila
- 19Starzynski
- 20Zyro
- 22Fabianski
- 23Kucharczyk
Scotland
- 1Marshall
- 2Hutton
- 4Martin
- 5GreerBooked at 85mins
- 3Whittaker
- 7Morrison
- 8Brown
- 10NaismithSubstituted forMartinat 71'minutes
- 6Maloney
- 11Anya
- 9FletcherSubstituted forFletcherat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Gordon
- 13Martin
- 14Berra
- 15Bryson
- 16Forsyth
- 17Bannan
- 18McArthur
- 19Fletcher
- 20Burke
- 21Gilks
- 22Robertson
- 23May
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Match Stats
Home TeamPolandAway TeamScotland
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Poland 2, Scotland 2.
Offside, Poland. Grzegorz Krychowiak tries a through ball, but Robert Lewandowski is caught offside.
Gordon Greer (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Poland).
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Michal Zyro replaces Kamil Grosicki.
Darren Fletcher (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arkadiusz Milik (Poland).
Attempt blocked. Kamil Grosicki (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by David Marshall.
Attempt blocked. Kamil Glik (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sebastian Mila with a cross.
Booking
Gordon Greer (Scotland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Gordon Greer (Scotland).
Sebastian Mila (Poland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Sebastian Mila (Poland) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Kamil Grosicki (Poland) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Sebastian Mila with a through ball.
Booking
Sebastian Mila (Poland) is shown the yellow card.
Alan Hutton (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arkadiusz Milik (Poland).
Attempt missed. Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski following a corner.
Corner, Poland. Conceded by David Marshall.
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Foul by Chris Martin (Scotland).
Kamil Glik (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Poland 2, Scotland 2. Arkadiusz Milik (Poland) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Artur Jedrzejczyk.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny.
Attempt saved. Shaun Maloney (Scotland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ikechi Anya with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Scotland. Darren Fletcher replaces Steven Fletcher.
Substitution
Substitution, Scotland. Chris Martin replaces Steven Naismith.
Attempt missed. Krzysztof Maczynski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Russell Martin (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arkadiusz Milik (Poland).
Dangerous play by Scott Brown (Scotland).
Krzysztof Maczynski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Steven Whittaker (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sebastian Mila (Poland).
Attempt missed. Kamil Grosicki (Poland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sebastian Mila.
James Morrison (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Krzysztof Maczynski (Poland).
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Sebastian Mila replaces Waldemar Sobota.
