Scotland 1-0 Qatar

Scotland star Matt Richie celebrates his opening goal

SCOTLAND coasted to a 1-0 win over Qatar in the perfect build up to their Euro 2016 qualifier against next weekend.

Gordon Strachan’s Scots face Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday June 13 in a crunch Group D qualifier.

With many of the Scots not having seen action since early May this was a friendly to get match fitness and sharpness up.

Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie, who impressed, grabbed the decisive goal in the first half.

There was a reduced crowd because some of the Tartan Army had opted to boycott the game in protest at the death of migrant workers in the construction of stadia for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Scotland began on the front foot against a nation 99th in the Fifa World rankings.

However it took the Scots until the 18th minute to carve out a significant opportunity when left-back Craig Forsyth cut the ball back to the onrushing Steven Naismith.

The attacker’s low 14 yard drive was blocked by keeper Lecomte Claude Amine.

Moments later Anya flashed a shot along the face of goal and wide of the far past.

The subdued pace of the friendly matched the subdued atmosphere from a sparse crowd and again it was Naismith who threatened.

His powerful 12 yard drive was tipped over the bar by Amine for a corner in the 23rd minute.

The Scots were beginning to stretch play and right sided winger Matt Ritchie drilled a half-volley well wide from 15 yards.

An inevitable opener came in the 41st minute when Naismith broke into the penalty area.

Under a challenge the ball broke to Matt RITCHIE and the Bournemouth winger drilled in a low 15 yard shot into the near corner for his first Scotland goal.

Again involved the lively Naismith latched onto a pass from James McArthur befor lifting a delicate chip over the keeper only to rattle the far post in the dying seconds of the first half.

The second half continued the pattern of the first 45 minutes with Scotland dominating possession and Qatar chasing shadows.

Scotland threatened again in the 62nd minute when James Forrest fired a long range drive well over.

In the 84th minute keeper Amine produced a close range block to deny substitute Leigh Griffiths from close range.