Scotland almost certain finalist

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 36

Scotland almost certain finalist

NZPA-Reuter Glasgow Two first-half penaltiesfrom Nottingham Forest’s John Robertson helped Scotland to a 3-1 win over Israel in a Group 6 World Cup qualifying match at Hampden Park, Glasgow, yesterday. The Scots, surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw in their last World Cup encounter in Glasgow a month ago, made almost certain of a place in the finals in Madrid and remained unbeaten on eight points from five qualifying matches; Israel has three points from six games and has yet to win a match. Northern Ireland and Portugal, Scotland’s closest rivals in the group, clash today. Scotland, spurred on by a crowd of over 60,000, doubled its tally of goals previously scored in the group, thanks mainly to a nine-minute spell

in the first half when Israel conceded two penalties. Robertson calmly slotted home both spot kicks after he and then Steve Archibald •were tackled in the box after 21 and 30 minutes respectively. The Celtic wing, Davie Provan, justified his surprise selection by scoring the third ’ with a low shot after 54 minutes, but two minutes later Israel pulled a goal back through Moshe Sinai. Scotland's player of the year, the goalkeeper, Alan Rough, had pulled off two crucial saves in the first 10 minutes in a blistering opening spell by the Israelis, who went for the early goal against Scotland's greater experience. But once the home side settled down, goals were always more likely to come its way than Israel’s and Scotland's manager, Jock Stein, was unfortunate not to see more by the finish.