Scott McKenna’s late red card briefly stirred North Macedonia into life, but it was too little, too late against a dominant Scotland side that controlled almost every moment of their Nations League meeting in Skopje. The home team managed a handful of passes and shots in the final minutes, drawing a sparse cheer from their fans, but for more than 80 minutes they were pinned deep and outplayed by a Scotland side brimming with energy.
Andy Robertson celebrated his 100th cap for Scotland with one of his easiest matches to date, as the visitors created chance after chance on a poor pitch in a largely empty stadium. The scoreline of 2-0 does not capture the level of control Scotland had, with 25 shots to North Macedonia’s nine, and a striking disparity in touches inside the penalty area—Scotland 37, North Macedonia 2.
Kieron Bowie opened the scoring early, rifling in a goal that settled the game and gave Scotland the platform to dominate. Bowie’s strike came after some impressive work from Oli McBurnie, who remains without a goal in 19 caps. Billy Gilmour’s role was also in focus, operating between midfield positions with a blend of tempo-setting and incisive passing that added fluidity to the Scottish play.
Ben Gannon-Doak was a standout, unsettling the North Macedonia defence with pace and involvement despite lacking match sharpness due to limited club minutes at Bournemouth. His delivery and decision-making showed room for growth, but his movement and threat created numerous opportunities. Gannon-Doak’s club situation remains uncertain, with sparse appearances this season and the possibility of a loan move in January to gain experience.
John McGinn added a second for Scotland with a penalty struck with conviction, equalling Lawrie Reilly’s tally on the all-time scoring list with 22 goals. McGinn’s goal came after a series of promising attempts from the visitors, including a thunderbolt from himself and a shot off the post by McKenna, who had been a commanding presence before his dismissal.
The night was a milestone for Robertson, who rarely needed to push beyond his usual high standards. He attempted four shots in the first 13 minutes alone, a rare level of attacking activity for the defender in his international career. The captain’s performance set the tone for Scotland, who played with urgency and ambition, though they occasionally struggled to convert their dominance into a larger margin.
Stephen Welsh and Luis Binks, both relatively new to the Scotland defence, impressed with their composure and presence. Substitute Robbie Ure also gained valuable experience, marking his first win with the national team. After earlier struggles in the campaign, this victory offers manager Sebastien Pocognoli a foundation to build on ahead of Scotland’s next Nations League fixture against Slovenia at Hampden Park.
North Macedonia’s performance was one of the poorest recorded in the competition, with the team unable to mount sustained pressure or create meaningful chances until the final moments after McKenna’s red card. The home side’s lack of cohesion and drive left the visitors in clear control for much of the match.
Scotland’s win lifts a weight for Pocognoli, ending the wait for a first Nations League victory under his management and providing a more positive mood as the team looks to develop new attacking options and maintain defensive solidity. The match in Skopje may not have been memorable for North Macedonia, but for Scotland it was a night of progress and celebration, especially for Robertson and the emerging talents in their squad.
According to Yahoo Sports.
