McManus saves Scotland's blushes in stoppage time

GLASGOW — A goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time from Stephen McManus saved Scotland's blushes as they struggled to a 2-1 Euro 2012 qualifier win over lowly Liechtenstein at Hampden here on Tuesday.Liechtenstein, with a population less than the crowd packed into the national stadium, stunned their hosts when they took the lead 60 seconds after the break through captain Mario Flick.Kenny Miller ended a 12-game goal-drought for the national side when he fired Scotland level in this Group I fixture with a superb volley in the 63rd minute.With Scotland heading towards their most embarrassing result ever it was Middlesbrough's McManus who appeared at the back post to send a header past Peter Jehle deep into injury time, much to the angry of the Liechtenstein contingent."They show five minutes of additional time on the board and actually seven extra minutes were played. I can live with maybe half a minute more but not as it was," Liechtenstein manager Hans-Peter Zaugg said."We as such a small nation, as such minnows, played a fantastic game here." Craig Levein was relieved with the win over a side that sits 100 places below them in the world rankings."Obviously I'm a very happy man. The facts and the stats will show that we are top of the group with four points and that for me is the most important thing," the Scotland boss said."The criticism will be, and I can understand it, levelled at our performance but I'd like to make a point of complimenting Liechtenstein on the way they played."At Hampden Levein made three changes to the side that drew with Lithuania.Scotland made a bright start and were presented with their first chance when Alan Hutton was fouled on the right wing, earning Liechtenstein's Franz Burgmeier a yellow card.James McFadden whipped in the resultant free-kick which was met by Lee McCulloch but he bulleted his header over.Darren Fletcher, who was winning his 50th cap, sent a ball over the top from the half-way line which evaded the Liechtenstein defence but had too much pace for Miller.

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