Match report

Scotland Defeats Belarus 2-1 in World Cup Qualification Europe

Scotland
Scotland
2–1
FT
Belarus
Belarus
Oct 12, 2025

Scotland clinched a narrow victory over Belarus with a 2-1 scoreline in their World Cup Qualification Europe encounter. Chris Adams and Scott McTominay were on target for Scotland, while G. Kuchko scored for Belarus late in the game. The match featured several VAR interventions and key substitutions that altered the momentum of the game.

Key Facts

  • • Chris Adams scored the first goal for Scotland in the 15th minute, assisted by J. Hendry.
  • • Scott McTominay netted Scotland's second goal in the 84th minute, assisted by Andrew Robertson.
  • • G. Kuchko scored for Belarus in the 90th minute, assisted by Nikita Korzun.
  • • Belarus had a goal and a penalty cancelled by VAR.
  • • Key substitutions included John Souttar and Lewis Dykes coming on for Scotland.

Lineups

Scotland

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 A. Gunn (G)
  • 2 A. Ralston (D)
  • 13 J. Hendry (D)
  • 16 S. McKenna (D)
  • 3 A. Robertson (D)
  • 23 K. McLean (M)
  • 8 B. Gilmour (M)
  • 17 B. Doak (M)
  • 4 S. McTominay (M)
  • 7 J. McGinn (M)
  • 10 C. Adams (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 L. Kelly
  • 21 C. Gordon
  • 5 G. Hanley
  • 6 K. Tierney
  • 9 L. Dykes
  • 11 C. Barron
  • 14 L. Miller
  • 15 J. Souttar
  • 18 G. Hirst
  • 19 J. Mulligan
  • 20 K. Bowie
  • 22 M. Johnston

Belarus

Formation: 4-4-1-1

Starting XI

  • 16 F. Lapoukhov
  • 22 V. Pigas (D)
  • 4 A. Martynovich (D)
  • 5 E. Parkhomenko (D)
  • 3 P. Zabelin (D)
  • 7 E. Malashevich (M)
  • 9 M. Ebong (M)
  • 14 E. Yablonskiy (M)
  • 2 K. Pechenin (M)
  • 10 V. Gromyko (F)
  • 11 G. Barkovskiy (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 M. Belov
  • 12 P. Pavlyuchenko
  • 6 M. Myakish
  • 8 N. Demchenko
  • 13 S. Karpovich
  • 15 N. Korzun
  • 17 V. Kalinin
  • 18 R. Lisakovich
  • 19 R. Myalkovskiy
  • 20 L. Mascaro
  • 21 G. Kuchko
  • 23 T. Melnichenko

Timeline

  1. Scotland
    15' Scotland Goal · Normal Goal
    C. Adams · Assist: J. Hendry
  2. Scotland
    17' Scotland Var · Goal confirmed
    C. Adams
  3. Belarus
    56' Belarus subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Vadim Pigas · On: T. Melnichenko
  4. Scotland
    60' Scotland Var · Penalty cancelled
    C. Adams
  5. Belarus
    65' Belarus Var · Goal cancelled
    E. Malashevich
  6. Belarus
    68' Belarus Card · Yellow Card
    K. Pechenin

    Argument

  7. Scotland
    72' Scotland subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Ralston · On: K. Tierney
  8. Scotland
    72' Scotland subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Hendry · On: John Souttar
  9. Belarus
    82' Belarus Card · Yellow Card
    M. Ebong

    Foul

  10. Belarus
    83' Belarus subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Valeriy Gromyko · On: Nikita Korzun
  11. Belarus
    83' Belarus subst · Substitution 3
    Off: E. Malashevich · On: G. Kuchko
  12. Scotland
    84' Scotland Goal · Normal Goal
    S. McTominay · Assist: A. Robertson
  13. Scotland
    88' Scotland subst · Substitution 3
    Off: C. Adams · On: L. Dykes
  14. Scotland
    88' Scotland subst · Substitution 4
    Off: B. Gilmour · On: L. Miller
  15. Belarus
    90'+1 Belarus subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Evgeni Yablonski · On: S. Karpovich
  16. Belarus
    90'+1 Belarus subst · Substitution 4
    Off: E. Parkhomenko · On: N. Demchenko
  17. Belarus
    90' Belarus Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Kuchko · Assist: Nikita Korzun

Match Stats

Stat Scotland Belarus
Fouls 10 14
Pass Accuracy 85% 85%
Offsides 2 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 12 22
Corners 7 6
Total Passes 467 383
Yellow Cards 0 2
Blocked Shots 1 11
Shots on Target 6 3
xG 1.09 0.86
Shots off Target 5 8
Possession 55% 45%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 399 326
Shots Inside Box 7 14
Saves 2 4
Shots Outside Box 5 8

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Scotland took an early lead with Chris Adams' goal in the 15th minute, which was confirmed by VAR.
  • ▸ The cancellation of a potential penalty for Scotland in the 60th minute and a goal for Belarus in the 65th minute maintained the tension, with VAR canceling both decisions.
  • ▸ Scott McTominay's goal in the 84th minute secured Scotland's lead, despite Belarus's late response in the 90th minute.