Scotland survives

Press, 27 March 1981, Page 4

Scotland survives

NZPA London Scotland, looking for the win which would have earned it a firm lead in qualifying group six, survived a fright against its neighbours. Northern Ireland, and settled for a point in their World Cup match at Glasgow. With 20 minutes left the Irish took the lead when Billy Hamilton headed home a Sammy McIlroy cross, but the Scots raised their game and five minutes later John Wark drove a through ball into the net.

At Brussels, a late goal from Jan Ceulemans gave Belgium a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a group two qualifying match.

Brilliant goalkeeping by Ireland’s Jim McDonagh and Belgulm’s Michel Prodhomme seemed to have assured a goalless 90 minutes, but, four minutes from time. Belguim was awarded a free kick on the edge Of the penalty area. ' - .

Rene Vandereycken enried his

shot over the Irish wall. It hit the bar, rebounded, and Ceulemans leaped above a sea of heads to nod It in.

At Rotterdam, Dutch chances of reaching the World Cup finals were kept alive with a 1-0 win over France in another group; two match.

A splendidly taken goal from a free kick by Arnold Muehrcn, who plays in England for Ipswich, settled the outcome.

Muehren, playing for his country after a three-yea r break.; bent a 25m left-foot shot round ; the French defence two minutes ; into the.second half. . ~ At Ankara. Wales moved a.step closer to a place in the finel* m Spain next year by beating2Turkey, 1-0. , t , , . • In, a scrappy game .dominated; by the Turks, Carl Harris grabbed the only goal in the sixt'eighth minute when he pounce* on an spelling defensive ~nus- : take. -