John McGinn scored a hat-trick for Scotland against San Marino
John McGinn scored a hat-trick for Scotland against San Marino

Scotland 6-0 San Marino: John McGinn scores hat-trick in Euro 2020 qualifier at Hampden Park


John McGinn scored a hat-trick as Scotland lifted some of the gloom around their Euro 2020 qualification campaign with a 6-0 win over San Marino.

A small crowd and heavy rain at Hampden greeted Steve Clarke's Scotland as they returned from a 4-0 hammering in Russia that ended their chances of qualifying through the group.

Scotland still have, however, a play-off to try and make it into next summer's Euro 2020 finals on account of their Nations League campaign, and a welcome win will give them some hope of emerging from that with a rare visit to a major tournament.

Aston Villa midfielder McGinn was a class above in the first half especially, scoring all three goals in the opening 45 minutes - firstly with a the slightest of touches on Christie's cross, with the ball going in off the post.

McGinn slid in his second when keeper Aldo Junior Simoncini palmed out Scott McTominay's cross, and he completed his hat-trick when he turned on Findlay's header from Christie's corner and drove in from a couple of yards

The match was in danger of turning into a farce due to the deluge, but the Scots kept forcing the goal issue and in the 65th minute Shankland got his first international goal after McTominay's 20-yard effort rebounded off the bar and into his path, allowing him to drive into the net.

Two minutes later Findlay got his first Scotland goal when he headed in a Christie corner. In the 85th minute, Simoncini picked the ball up outside the box thinking a foul had been awarded further up the park, giving Armstrong the opportunity to curl the consequent free-kick high into the net for number six.

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