Scotland beats Lithuania 1-0 in Euro qualifier

Scotland beats Lithuania 1-0 in Euro qualifier

Published Sep. 6, 2011 10:36 p.m. ET

Steven Naismith scored just after halftime as Scotland registered a 1-0 home win over Lithuania to keep its hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 alive in Group I.

Naismith connected with a right-wing cross from Barry Bannan in the 50th minute to clinch victory and save the blushes of Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, who had a penalty saved just before the break.

''It's a marvelous feeling,'' Bannan said. ''This is my first competitive game and after playing in the friendlies to get out there and start at Hampden, it's what dreams are made of.''

Scotland had enjoyed greater possession in the opening period and threatened to score twice in the early stages from Bannan corners - particularly when Christophe Berra sliced wide at the back post in the 16th.

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The game opened up as Lithuania pushed forward in the second half, but wayward finishing from both sides ensured there were no further goals.

The win lifted Scotland to eight points in the group, two behind the Czech Republic, with world and European champions Spain expected to win the group and leave a playoff place for the runnersup. Lithuania remains on five points.

''It's a great result for us,'' Bannan said. ''We knew what it was going to be, a tough game, and we got what we came for. To get the three points is a big result and hopefully we can kick on from there.''

Bannan proved a threat all match for Scotland and his chipped cross allowed Naismith to guide the ball past Zydrunas Karcemarskas on the bounce to open the scoring.

The goal forced Lithuania to commit more men forward and Naismith almost repeated his link-up with Bannan with a header behind from close range in the 72nd.

Substitute Tomas Danilevicius went close to equalizing for Lithuania with a header shortly after and fellow replacement Arvydas Novikovas shot over as Lithuania pushed.

Naismith skewed a shot high in the closing minutes, but Scotland held on to the narrow lead.

Scotland coach Craig Levein said: ''I thought we played really tonight. In spells we made it a little more difficult than it should have been, missing chances. When it's 1-0 the opposition are never out of the game and there were nervous moments at the end when they're throwing the ball into the box with five strikers on.''

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Lineups:

Scotland: Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker, Phil Bardsley (Stephen Crainey, 70), Christophe Berra, Gary Caldwell, Don Cowie, Darren Fletcher, Barry Bannan (Robert Snodgrass, 84), David Goodwillie, James Morrison (Graham Dorrans, 79), Steven Naismith.

Lithuania: Zydrunas Karcemarskas, Deividas Semberas, Ramunas Radavicius, Tadas Kijanskas (Tomas Danilevicius, 61), Marius Zaliukas, Darvydas Sernas, Saulias Mikoliunas (Ricardas Beniusis, 77), Linas Pilibaitis, Arunas Klimavicius, Deividas Cesnauskis, Tadas Labukas (Arvydas Novikovas, 46).

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