Sunday 9 October 2016 07:38, UK
Scotland avoided a shock defeat by Lithuania thanks to substitute James McArthur's last-gasp header in a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park.
The visitors, ranked 73 places below Scotland in the world rankings, went ahead just before the hour mark through Fedor Cernych, firing past David Marshall at the near post having gone through one-on-one.
But in the 90th minute, Crystal Palace midfielder McArthur nodded home from eight yards to level the scores, though Gordon Strachan's side would have expected to take all three points.
The result means Scotland are second in Group F, two points behind leaders England as they prepare to go to Slovakia on Tuesday.
Strachan picked an unchanged Scotland starting XI after the 5-1 win over Malta last month, with hat-trick hero Robert Snodgrass starting, but the hosts struggled for clear-cut chances in the first half.
Chris Martin poked the ball just wide on the stretch from Callum Patterson's right-wing cross, after Paterson himself had headed inches wide from Matt Ritchie's free-kick from the left.
Lithuania could have easily been awarded a penalty late in the first half as Barry Bannan brought down Cernych, but German referee Tobias Stieler waved play on despite the midfielder failing to get a touch on the ball.
Scotland started the second half with more intent, Snodgrass' effort from Andy Robertson's cut-back being cleared off the line before Chris Martin's glancing header fell inches wide of the right-hand post.
Lithuania took a shock lead on 59 minutes, Cernych finding the near post after a fine one-two with Vykintas Slivka in the final third.
James Forrest came within inches of an instant reply for Scotland, slamming the ball just wide on the half-volley after Robertson's cross-shot was parried away.
Cernych could have had a second, volleying a yard wide from just inside the area as Scotland fell asleep at the back, before Leigh Griffiths' free header from eight yards fell straight into the grateful hands of goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus.
Scotland pushed forward in the final stages and got their equaliser as the clock approached 90, McArthur directing his header into the bottom left corner from eight yards after Grant Hanley superbly won the first aerial ball.
Scotland nearly won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but Martin's glancing header was cleared from under the crossbar by the visitors.
