Scotland see off Lithuania

Boyd: Opening goal

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Scotland moved into a qualifying position in Euro 2008 qualifying Group B with a 3-1 victory over Lithuania.

Kris Boyd scored the opening goal in the 31st minute as guided a header past Zydrunas Karcemarkas from Darren Fletcher's quickly-taken free-kick.

Tomas Danilevicius equalised for the visitors after 61 minutes after the referee awarded a controversial penalty for a foul by Fletcher on Saulius Mikoliunas.

But Stephen McManus turned in Shaun Maloney's cross to restore Scotland's lead and James McFadden added a stunning third late on.

New-look side

Alan Hutton and Jay McEveley both made their first starts in the full-back positions, although the decision most likely to have raised eyebrows ahead of the game was the inclusion of Gary Teale on the right of midfield. There was no place for Paul Hartley or McFadden in the starting line-up.

Lithuanian coach Algimantas Liubinskas had named six Hearts players in his squad but only two started at Hampden, Deividas Cesnauskis and Andrius Velicka, plus former Dunfermline centre-half Andrius Skerla.

The action was far from inspirational early on. A Lithuania free-kick could have caused problems when Scott Brown was deemed to have fouled Danilevicius a few yards outside the box.

Mindaugas Kalonas was wasteful with the set-piece but was given the opportunity to make amends when the ball pinged back into his path. However, Craig Gordon was not troubled by an effort hit well over the crossbar.

The first real incident of note from Scotland arrived with 20 minutes gone and

Lithuania would surely have found themselves in arrears had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Karcemarskas.

He pulled off a superb double save to firstly prevent Boyd's header nestling in the net, before pawing a Lee McCulloch follow-up to safety. McCulloch, though, should have made more of the opportunity.

When the breakthrough came after 31 minutes, it even caught Alex McLeish by surprise. The Scotland manager was busily scribbling in his notepad, perhaps pondering whether to tweak his system, when Boyd claimed the opener.

Darren Fletcher - who had retained the captaincy in the absence of the suspended Barry Ferguson - delivered a tantalising free-kick from the right into the box and the Rangers striker out-muscled Skerla to connect with the header, which he directed past Karcemarskas.

Boyd then passed up a couple of chances to double his haul before half-time. A left-footed volley prompted a one-handed save from Karcemarskas before an enticing through-ball from Fletcher saw Boyd wastefully smash his shot off the body of the onrushing goalkeeper.

Two more Hearts players, Mikoliunas and Audrius Ksanavicius, were thrown into the action after the break and the Tynecastle connection intensified when former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas replaced Marius Stankevicius, who was withdrawn shortly after the restart after appearing to land awkwardly on his arm.

Controversy

Mikoliunas had an almost instant, and devastating, impact on the game. Under pressure from Fletcher, he earned a dubious penalty, deceiving 31-year-old referee Damir Skomina.

Danilevicius stepped up to convert from 12 yards to restore parity.

McFadden then bounded off the bench, replacing Teale, with the intention of restoring Scotland's lead but it was McManus who was next to threaten.

His header was saved at the keeper's right-hand post before he resumed his defensive duties at the other end by blocking a goalbound effort from Kalonas.

McManus' near-miss proved to be a preview of what was to come from the Celtic captain. McLeish went for broke by introducing Craig Beattie and Shaun Maloney.

Aston Villa man Maloney, with his first touch, lobbed Fletcher's short corner to the back post, where McManus was waiting to rifle home with 13 minutes remaining.

Any hope of a second Lithuania comeback was snuffed out seven minutes from time when McFadden's 25-yard curling left-footed drive nestled in the back of the Lithuania net.

Paris, and World Cup runners-up France, now await Scotland's challenge on Wednesday.