Nations League round-up: Scotland cream of the crop in Group C1

Scotland stunned Israel 3-2 in the final game of the group earning promotion to Group B.

Albania started off perfectly beating Israel 1-0. Midfielder Taulant Xhaka getting the winner with a long-range effort.

Former captain Eran Zahavi returned to feature for Israel after a year of being out of the team. Zahavi quit by throwing the captain’s armband down following a loss to Macedonia during a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

Scotland would kick off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Albanians. Steven Naismith played a part in both goals with it being his header that hit Berat Djimsiti resulting in an own goal.

Naismith sealed the win beating Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha in the air from a corner. Allan McGregor returned in the Scotland net and had to be alert as he denied Albania attacker Bekim Balaj with the game still at 1-0.

This was Alex McLeish’s first competitive match back in the dugout and the performance will have pleased the former Aston Villa manager.

However, their next match would not yield the same result as they threw away a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to Israel. McLeish’s men were on course to get a draw until Celtic defender Kieran Tierney shanked his clearance straight past a helpless McGregor in the Scotland net.

Israel followed up their come-from-behind victory with a 2-0 over Albania in Beer Sheva. Inflicting revenge on the side that beat them in the opening match of the competition.

Israel led through QPR loanee Tomer Hemed who beat Strakosha from just outside the area.

Dia Seba delivered the final blow as Bibras Natkho’s short free-kick found him on the edge of the box and the midfielder’s strike crashed in off the woodwork.

Albania’s disastrous form continued as they were hammered 4-0 at home to Scotland. Ryan Fraser led the charge for McLeish’s side as he cut in from the left and found the bottom corner.

Mergim Mavraj then got sent off for the hosts for headbutting Ryan Christie. Steven Fletcher scored his first goal for the national side in two years while Celtic Winger James Forrest got a double to complete the humiliation.

Their final group match was anything but routine, however. Falling behind to Isreal as former Celtic man Beram Kayal scored a stunner with the game barely ten minutes old, Scotland clawed their way back to capture a 3-2 victory and finish group winners.

James Forrest became the first Celtic player since Jimmy Quinn in 1908 to score a hat-trick for Scotland.

His first flew into the bottom left corner; he doubled up with a side-footed effort into the centre of the net while his third, confirming the win, was placed firmly into the right corner completing a stunning week for the Scotsman.