Gough sent off as Scots fall at first World Cup hurdle

james traynor

10 Sep 1992

Berne, Wednesday.

Switzerland 3, Scotland 1.

IT HAD been hoped that Ally McCoist would kick-start another World Cup qualifying campaign for Scotland and although the Rangers striker scored in the Wankdorf stadium here this evening, it was another front player, Adrian Knap, who took the plaudits.

The Swiss striker scored twice to raise his country's hopes of playing in the American World Cup finals in 1994.

Switzerland, who beat Estonia 6-0 in Tallinn last month, now have maximum points from two matches while Scotland face the daunting challenge of games against Portugal and Italy in rapid succession, next month and in November respectively.

Even though these matches will be played at Ibrox in front of capacity audiences, the dreadful prospect of completing three games without a point looms.

If that were to happen Scotland's hopes of reaching their sixth successive finals would be destroyed before the turn of the year.

Scotland will have to meet Portugal without Richard Gough, who was sent off five minutes from time after he had used his hands to stop the ball.

The Rangers skipper now has the unenviable distinction of being the first Scotland captain to be sent off, and the first Scot since Joe Jordan at Swansea in 1981.

But by the time he left the tie was beyond his team's reach.

To be fair also, he was not helped by the fact that the ball took an unnatural bounce off a water sprinkler.

His dismissal meant that for the second night in a row in Switzerland a Scottish player had been ordered off.

In Sursee the previous evening, Darren Ferguson was sent off as the Scottish under-21s lost 2-0.

Knup, who along with Alain Sutter had threatened Scotland all night, scored the first goal after only a minute of play and he struck again midway through the second half.

Georges Bregy's tremendously powerful free kick only minutes before Gough's dismissal completed the Swiss joy.

After their miserable start, the Scots were given fresh belief when McCoist equalised with his thirteenth international goal, but the Swiss always appeared the more dangerous.

It is fair to say not too many of the Swiss were interested in the match despite its significance, and only about 10,000 of the 28,000 tickets available had been purchased by noon today.

Nevertheless, Scotland's supporters, about 600 of them, made themselves heard as they went through their repertoire.

They were colourful and loud, as always, and behaved again as though they are loved the world over, while it is probably closer to the truth to say the Scottish fan has started to believe everything that has been written and said about him.

Sepp Blatter, the general secretary of the game's governing body, was cheered by the Scottish fans as he arrived for the match and acknowledged them with a broad smile and a wave.

Ever the diplomat, although the result was to give his words a hollow ring, Blatter said: "These fans, and the Scottish team, would be a welcome addition to the World Cup finals in America.

"I came to see this match because, of course, FIFA are based in Zurich and because it is the first World Cup qualifying tie of the new campaign on Swiss soil.

But also, I admire the Scottish style of play."

He clenched a fist and hit his heart and if ever the Scots needed to play with courage and composure it was after Switzerland had taken their early lead.

Speed on a surface made treacherous because of the steady drizzle was the key, and the first time Scotland showed a turn of foot the Swiss defence was breached.

Gordon Durie, released by Stuart McCall, sped down the right, leaving Georges Bregy in his wake, and the Spurs player clicked the ball across the face of goal.

McCoist timed his move to perfection and reached the delivery first, turning the ball into the Swiss net.

Scotland's hopes again were alive and vibrant.

Boyd gave the ball away to Sutter at the start of the second half and the Swiss player darted forward before sliding a pass through to Knup, who was running free to the right.

Although Maurice Malpas didn't manage to make a connection, his challenge may have been just enough to put Knup off his shot and the ball flew wide.

Another of Knup's attempts was blocked by McPherson, and these two flashes of Knup served as reminders.

In an attempt to increase the flow of ball towards their own strikers Scotland withdrew McClair and sent on Ian Durrant.

Immediately, he took possession and linked well with McCall, whose chip into the box gave Durie the chance to shoot, but a linesman ruled McCoist offside.

The sight of Gough galloping forward was perhaps a measure of Scotland's growing sense of well-being, but it was also a false indicator as the Swiss would prove after 71 minutes, when they scored a second goal.

Sutter got away from Boyd on the left and when his cross arrived in the middle, Knup jumped above Malpas and headed past Goram.

Scotland made a second substitution, sending on Kevin Gallacher for Boyd, and the newcomer was booked after a foul on Bregy.

Any hope the Scots may have had of drawing level a second time evaporated nine minutes from the end when Bregy stepped forward to take a free kick awarded after McPherson had fouled Knup.

From all of 25 yards Bregy thumped the ball over Scotland's defensive wall and into the top left-hand corner of Goram's net.

SWITZERLAND -- Pascolo, Hottiger, Quentin, Egli, Geiger, Bregy, A Sutter, Ohrel, Knup, Forza, Chapuisat.

Substitutes -- Lehmann, Herr, Piffaretti, B Sutter, Zuffi.

SCOTLAND -- Goram, Gough (both Rangers), Malpas (Dundee United), McCall (Rangers), Boyd (Celtic), McPherson (Rangers), Durie (Tottenham), McAllister (Leeds), McCoist (Rangers), McStay (Celtic), McClair (Manchester United).

Substitutes -- Smith (Hearts), Nevin (Tranmere), Durrant (Rangers), Whyte (Middlesbrough), Gallacher (Coventry).

Referee -- M van der Ende (Holland).

Taken from the Herald