International Friendlies
ScotlandScotland0USAUSA0

Scotland 0-0 USA

By Alasdair LamontSenior football reporter, BBC Scotland
Highlights - Scotland 0-0 USA

Scotland and USA cancelled each other out in a largely uninspiring friendly draw at Hampden Park.

The Scots were looking to record a third successive win for the first time since 2007.

But Robert Snodgrass's free-kick, brilliantly saved by Tim Howard, was as close as they got to achieving that.

Aron Johannsson forced an equally excellent save from David Marshall late on before Grant Hanley somehow stopped Jozy Altidore converting the rebound.

A winner for the visitors at that stage would have been harsh, but Johannsson flashed another shot narrowly wide as USA found some late impetus.

Only 18 months ago, Scotland were thrashed 5-1 by the same opponents, but though USA are ranked 13th in the world - 22 places above the Scots - a similar outcome was never on the cards.

Though Scotland lacked the verve and tenacity that has characterised recent performances under Gordon Strachan, they did look the better team for the majority of the 90 minutes.

Equally, though, when Howard managed to claw that Snodgrass free-kick over the bar, it was the only time he was properly tested in the match.

He scrambled down to his right to gather a Charlie Mulgrew shot on the turn early in the second half, but in truth the save was a comfortable one.

Shortly afterwards, Altidore smashed a drive just wide of Marshall's goal, which until then had also been untroubled.

The few second-half chances at least allowed for some excitement compared to the insipid fare on show in the opening 45 minutes.

Craig Conway - handed a rare start for his country - failed to take what was the best first-half opportunity.

Played in on the left of the box by Steven Fletcher, the Brighton winger snatched at the chance and his shot bounced into the side-netting with Howard exposed for the first time.

The only other opening of any note in an otherwise unremarkable first period came from a set-piece.

When Fletcher was fouled just outside the box, it looked the ideal situation for any of Scotland's gifted left-footers.

Mulgrew took responsibility, but his curling effort flew a foot or so over Howard's bar.

Both sides had half-hearted penalty claims correctly waved away and ultimately the goalless scoreline was an accurate reflection of the match.

The countries now move on with very different preparations - the USA on the road to Brazil, the Scots with a longer-term plan of reaching Euro 2016.

Line-ups

Scotland

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Marshall
  • 2Hutton
  • 5Greer
  • 4Hanley
  • 3WhittakerSubstituted forWallaceat 69'minutes
  • 6BannanSubstituted forNaismithat 81'minutes
  • 8Brown
  • 7Mulgrew
  • 11ConwaySubstituted forMackay-Stevenat 84'minutes
  • 10SnodgrassSubstituted forMcCormackat 69'minutes
  • 9Fletcher

Substitutes

  • 12Gilks
  • 13McArthur
  • 14Naismith
  • 15Berra
  • 16Adam
  • 17Martin
  • 18Wallace
  • 19Mackay-Steven
  • 20McCormack
  • 21Fox
  • 22Anya
  • 23Bryson

USA

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Howard
  • 6EvansSubstituted forLichajat 72'minutes
  • 3González
  • 20Cameron
  • 7Beasley
  • 4Bradley
  • 13JonesSubstituted forDiskerudat 63'minutes
  • 11BedoyaSubstituted forWondolowskiat 81'minutes
  • 16KljestanSubstituted forJóhannssonat 63'minutes
  • 18JohnsonSubstituted forSheaat 62'minutes
  • 17AltidoreSubstituted forBoydat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Lichaj
  • 5Brooks
  • 9Jóhannsson
  • 10Diskerud
  • 12Johnson
  • 14Orozco
  • 15Boyd
  • 19Wondolowski
  • 21Shea
Referee:
Michael Oliver

Match Stats

Home TeamScotlandAway TeamUSA
Possession
Home45%
Away55%
Shots
Home11
Away7
Shots on Target
Home1
Away2
Corners
Home4
Away4
Fouls
Home6
Away19

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Scotland 0, USA 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Scotland 0, USA 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Terrence Boyd (USA) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aron Jóhannsson.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Chris Wondolowski (USA).

  5. Post update

    Scott Brown (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, USA. Terrence Boyd replaces Jozy Altidore.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jozy Altidore (USA).

  8. Post update

    Grant Hanley (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Offside, Scotland. David Marshall tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Aron Jóhannsson (USA).

  11. Post update

    Alan Hutton (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Brek Shea (USA).

  13. Post update

    Ross McCormack (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Aron Jóhannsson (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Brek Shea.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Gary Mackay-Steven replaces Craig Conway.

  16. Post update

    Attempt saved. Aron Jóhannsson (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, USA. Chris Wondolowski replaces Alejandro Bedoya.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Steven Naismith replaces Barry Bannan.

  19. Post update

    Corner, USA. Conceded by Grant Hanley.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Brek Shea (USA).