Vogts in trouble as Scotland draw

Moldova 1 Scotland 1

Scotland’s failure to beat Europe’s poorest nation has left Berti Vogts’ job hanging by a thread.

A 1-1 draw in a nation that cannot afford street lighting means one of Scotland’s darkest days will surely now lead to the German’s dismissal.

The setback leaves them with just two points from three World Cup qualifiers and Norway’s 3-0 dismissal of Slovenia earlier in the day means the chances of the Tartan Army being present at the 2006 finals are now minuscule.

The Tartan Army booed at the final whistle, having seen the Scots outplayed at regular intervals and few of Vogts’ many critics will show him any mercy now.

Vogts must have thought luck was with him when skipper Barry Ferguson declared himself fit to start despite the hamstring problem that had made him a major doubt.

Centre back Russell Anderson could not shake off an ankle problem however so his place was taken by Steven Caldwell to join brother Gary as the first pair of siblings to play for the Scotland senior side since Jock and David Shaw in 1946.

Vogts made three more changes from the side that had lost 1-0 at home to Norway on Saturday and put his job in jeopardy.

With strikers James McFadden and Paul Dickov both suspended in came Steven Thompson and Stevie Crawford and there was also a switch on the left of midfield with Colin Cameron replacing Richard Hughes.

Ferguson began the match with an intention to get it wrapped up as soon as possible and, after Crawford had sent a rasping drive on the run just over, the skipper saw a skidding effort flash through a crowded box and just miss a post.

But Moldova had created the game’s first real chance, which Ghanadie Olexici headed powerfully over, and then took the lead in the 28th minute.

It had not been against the run of play either as Serghei Covaliciuc and Stanislav Ivanov had produced some fine skill and vision in the preceding minutes to suggest something might happen.

Serghei Dadu was the man who found the net, accepting a head on by Serghei Rogaciov and turning Gary Caldwell to fire past Craig Gordon from six-yards out.

Dadu was a name already familiar to Scottish football fans as he is the CSKA Moscow man who was infamously kicked in the head by Rangers midfielder Alex Rae in a Champions League qualifier in August.

Rae picked up a five-match ban and Rangers were eventually knocked out of that tie but it was an Ibrox striker that immediately came to Vogts’ rescue.

The German had been banned from the dugout following his sending off at half-time in the Norway match and his position in the stands meant he was surrounded by the Tartan Army.

What must he and they have been thinking when Moldova netted their first goal of the World Cup qualification trail before the Scots did?

Fortunately for the German, no-one had too long to ponder that as within three minutes Thompson had fired the Scots level when he was allowed to get on the end of a Darren Fletcher cross from the right and send a low drive past goalkeeper Evgheni Hmaruc.

It was the striker’s third goal for Scotland in 16 internationals but few will have been sweeter in Vogts’ lengthy career.

There was a still a match to be won, however, as a draw simply would not do and it gradually became clearer and clearer that the Scots were going to drop more points. It was just a question of whether it would be two or three.

There was, however, a change at left back at the break with Ian Murray replacing Gary Naysmith.

The Hibernian man had hardly touched the ball before Dadu almost put Moldova back in front.

Covaliciuc was the danger man once again, making ground on the left and picking the striker out in space beyond the far post.

In came a goal-bound effort that was struck with venom but Gordon, who had been at fault for Norway’s winner, produced a top quality save to justify Vogts’ faith in him.

Moldova were technically adept and were launching regular attacks, although one was brought to an abrupt end by a crude challenge on Andy Webster that earned Stanislav Ivanov a 56th-minute booking.

Murray was struggling to make the pace but did at least stop Covaliciuc – the game’s outstanding individual – putting Ivanov through.

Scotland made a second change in the 66th minute with Darren Fletcher being replaced by Kenny Miller – a striker for a midfielder.

Vogts has had plenty of criticism hurled his way over the last few days and it appeared that a disgruntled Tartan Army member threw something far more tangible at the German.

There was another let-off for the Scots when Dadu headed over while unchallenged in the box with Covaliciuc – who else? – having picked him out at the far post.

Time was running out fast and Crawford saw an angled drive comfortably saved by Hmaruc but Serghei Rogaciov should have killed off the Scots but failed to hit the target from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Lee McCulloch was handed a debut with four minutes remaining but he could not produce the fairy tale ending to an evening and save Vogts in the process.