SCOTLAND 2, ENGLAND 2
Never in the history of football’s oldest international fixture – the first was held in 1872 – has there been a more dramatic finish.
Group F leaders England, with a heavy Mancunian presence in their squad, looked to have taken a massive towards the finals in Russia when substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fired England ahead with 20 minutes left at Hampden Park.
Then in the space of three dramatic minutes, Leigh Griffiths scored two unbelievable free kicks after 87 and 90 minutes as Scotland, who began the day in fourth place, looked set to record a win to enhance their chances of finishing second to claim a play off place.
They were the Celtic striker’s first international goals in his 13th full appearance.
England, who had not conceded a goal in any of their five previous qualifiers, were stunned as Hampden became a cauldron on patriotic fervour.
But there was a never-say-die spirit from England that was rewarded when Harry Kane, captaining England for the first time, equalised in the third of four added minutes.
It was a point that leaves England top and still unbeaten in their qualifiers, but it a result that gives Scotland renewed hope they can finish second in the group.
England manager Gareth Southgate described it as a “significant” moment how his side fought from behind to snatch a draw at the death.
He said: “Nobody sank to their knees – we should never throw in the towel.
“We had the chance, and a free kick before that, and in the end it was a significant moment in the character that had to come through.
“We wanted to win, but in the way the narrative of the game was played out we have got to be pleased with the point.
“It was a huge moment for the team, centring on character.”
He also praised Kane declaring: “It was a brilliant goal in a pressure moment. I think it is a significant goal for many reasons.
“If he had not scored, I am sure we would have been sat here talking about how long it was since he last scored for England.”
Southgate thought England were in control of the game for 80 minutes saying they deserved to be ahead, though he was “disappointed” with some of their play in the final third.
He described it as a “mad one and a half minutes” saying his side should avoid conceding free kicks in such dangerous places.
Southgate added they were two brilliant finishes under pressure from Griffiths.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan described it as one of the most emotional games of his managerial career.
“It was one of my best results as a manager, and I have had some good ones against Manchester United and AC Milan,” he said.
Strachan likened it as a heavyweight boxer against a middleweight, but his side kept coming back.
He said: “You cannot question the personality, character and commitment of my players.
“Nobody knows how hard it is to play against England and their power, strength and speed. It is amazing how big, strong and quick their players are.”
Strachan described the goals from Griffiths as the two best Scotland free kicks of all time.
It was clear from the first whistle that this was not a typical international as the pace and intensity was blood and thunder.
And only two and a half minutes had gone before Scotland’s combative captain Scott Brown was booked for a scything challenge on Dele Alli.
Scotland, playing a high pressing game that had England on the back foot, had the first chance when Griffiths fired straight at keeper Joe Hart.
That was as good as it got for the Scots in the opening period in which England had the best of the few openings.
Kane was prominent in every dangerous attack as he ballooned a shot over, narrowly failed to connect with an Adam Lallana cross and then had a 35 yard opportunist effort headed off the line by Andrew Robertson after a poor clearance by keeper Craig Gordon.
England finished the half strongly when Gordon turned an Alli shot into the side netting by Gordon while a piledriver from Jake Livermore was fisted over the bar by the keeper.
Livermore came within inches of breaking the deadlock early in the second period when his shot was deflected off Robertson on to the upright with Gordon beaten.
Scotland then had their best spell of the game.
Griffiths had a penalty appeal rejected after a challenge by Kyle Walker as he burst into the box while Robertson andStuart Armstrong both shot over.
England made their first change midway through the second period when Marcus Rashford was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And within five minutes of coming on, the Arsenal player fired England ahead. He cut in from the right and fired a left-foot shot to the left of Gordon.
Oxlade-Chamberlain certainly made a difference as he made an interception before firing over a cross that Lallana header over at the far post.
England made a second change with seven minutes left when Alli made way for Raheem Sterling.
The late drama began in the 87th minute when Gary Cahill committed a foul on substitute Ryan Fraser 27 yards from goal and Griffiths curled a majestic free kick over the defensive wall and high to the left of Hart.
And who said lightning doesn’t strike twice when exactly the same thing happened three minutes later after substitute Chris Martin was fouled by Sterling.
Though the offence was marginally more central, Griffiths stepped forward and curled the free kick from 27 yards low to the right of Hart as the deafening cheers were enough to lift the roof off Hampden.
But there was a sting in the tail as England made it 2-2 deep into stoppage time when Sterling fired over a low cross from the left for Kane to sweep home at the far post for his sixth goal for England.