Harry Kane’s stoppage-time equalizer rescued a 2-2 draw for England against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier after a pair of late Leigh Griffiths free kicks looked to have completed a dramatic comeback on Saturday.
England seemed on course for a routine victory when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave it the lead shortly after coming off the bench. But three goals in the final six minutes lit up a game that was low on quality and entertainment.
Griffiths beat Joe Hart twice with set-pieces from long range before Kane, captain of England for the first time, volleyed his side level deep into stoppage time.
England’s position at the top of Europe Group F weakened as Slovakia and Slovenia both won, but it left Hampden Park relieved to have kept its eight-year unbeaten run in tournament qualifying matches intact.
England remains top of the table with 14 points, but Slovakia won 2-1 in Lithuania to close within two points while Slovenia is just one point further back after a 2-0 win over Malta.
“It (the goal) is definitely up at the top, it was a special day,” Kane said. “It looked like we were going to win the game and then like we were going to lose when 2-1 down in stoppage time.
To get the goal was special. I did not know whether the keeper was going to come, so when I saw him stay on his line … what a ball it was, and it was just a good side-foot into the net.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain took just five minutes to make an impact, as he cut in from the right and struck a powerful left-foot effort past Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon in the 70th minute.
Griffiths failed to score on his previous 12 appearances for his country, but broke the drought in spectacular style.
He curled a 25-yard free kick past Joe Hart into the top corner in the 87th, and repeated the trick just three minutes later as he bent the ball into the opposite side of the goal.
Scotland appeared to have secured a first victory over its fierce rival since 1999, but the Premier League leading scorer for the last two seasons came to his country’s rescue. Raheem Sterling played a hopeful cross into Scotland’s box, and the unmarked Kane finished ruthlessly.
LITHUANIA 1, SLOVAKIA 2
Marek Hamsik produced a fine free kick of his own to help Slovakia to a crucial victory at LFF Stadium in Vilnius.
Slovakia’s main creative force proved his value once more as he provided a neat assist for Vladimir Weiss in the 32nd.
Hamsik then added his 21st goal for his country in the 58th with a perfect set-piece into the top corner.
Lithuania grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time through Darvydas Sernas but its qualification hopes look bleak with just five points from six games.
SLOVENIA 2, MALTA 0
Josip Ilicic inspired Slovenia to victory over hapless Malta to keep its World Cup qualification ambitions on track at Stadion Stozice.
Ilicic gave his side the lead in first-half stoppage time with a left-footed curling effort from an acute angle and set up Milivoje Novakovic to seal the victory in the 84th.
Malta remained bottom of the group having failed to secure a point in the opening six games.
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