THE 2004 GAME

Scotland Win Again!

The 2004 game ended in a second successive victory for Scotland. After a goalless match, Scotland won 4:3 in the penalty shoot-out, largely thanks to 2 superb penalty saves by Dave Wood in the Scottish goal.

The highlights during the regulation 80 minutes were a Scotland goal early in the match, by Craig Haggarty, being disallowed for offside, and an England free kick, by Mark Leppard, thumping the crossbar towards the end of the second half.

World Cup Winner Frank Leboeuf (left), currently playing for Al Sadd Club in Doha, presented the trophies and medals, and posed for numerous photos with players and fans after the match.

This year's match was brought to you with the support of British Airways and the Intercontinental Hotel.

 2004 Match Report

ENGLAND 0 v 0 SCOTLAND

(Scotland win 4-3 on Penalties)

Scotland 'shoot down' England

DOHA: Scotland retained the title in the annual England-Scotland expat football match when they emerged 4-3 win­ners via the tie-breaker penalty shoot-out at the Al Ahli Stadium.

The match witnessed many chances being created and missed by both teams with Scotland maintaining steady pressure mainly from the fast feet and precision passes from John Morrison. Scotland's Craig Haggarty had the ball in the England net early on but the officials called offside. The England back line were working steadily as a unit with Gafyn Lewis making amends for a shaky perfor­mance last December, and he gave a matured steady and safe performance. England soaked up the Scotland pressure but their for­ward line rarely threatened although David Craig worked tirelessly with little support, causing problems in the Scots defence whenever he was eventually fed the ball.

It was an entertaining first half that ended 0-0.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second half and England's Mark Leppard almost sealed victory when his thumping free kick rattled the Scotland crossbar. However, with both teams failing to score it was deja vu all over again with the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Last year Scotland triumphed with Stuart Potter hit­ting the winning penalty, and this ele­vated him to be the opener this year's shoot-out.

How the mighty are fallen, from hero to zero as his attempt went so high it was last seen by the Hubbell telescope!

Then a cool, calm Dave Harris con­verted England's first penalty, beating Dave Wood low to his right.

Fenwick (Sco), Leppard (Eng), and then Mark Fotheringham (Sco) converted to make it 2-2 before Wood made an excellent save to deny Hemmingway putting England in front. Sinclair (Sco) and Lord (Eng) took it to 3-3. In a near repeat of last year's shoot-out Dave Wood stepped up to take Scotland's final spot kick which he effortlessly sent past the helpless Kelly and then went back between the sticks to make a great diving save from Peter Jackson who had struck his shot well.

The foundations of Doha's Al Ahli stadium were then tested thor­oughly as the Scottish team rushed to congratulate Wood and start their celebrations.

It was no surprise then that Guest of Honour and World Cup winner in 1998, Frank Leboeuf of France nominated Dave Wood of Scotland as Man of the Match.

The game was well officiat­ed by Qatar FA referee Mawla Hossin and his assistants, Qis Al Abdulla, Abdul Aziz Al Harbi and John Hughes.

The Scotland v England organising committee acknowledged the support of all the sponsors, the Qatar FA and the Al Ahli Club manage­ment for making this entertaining fixture possible.