Beattie hits late Scottish winner

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GLASGOW, Scotland -- Craig Beattiie's 89th minute goal gave Scotland's new coach Alex McLeish a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Georgia and kept the Scots out in front in Group B of the European Championship qualifiers.

With time running out it appeared Scotland would have to settle for just one point before their second-half substitute struck.

As Georgia attempted to clear from another Scotland attack Naismith sent a looping header back into the penalty area and it was flicked on by Miller into the path of Beattie.

He took just a touch before sending a low left-foot shot into the net past the outstretched keeper.

Celtic defender Stephen McManus almost put the Scots in front in the fifth minute when he got on the end of club teammate Paul Hartley's cross, but his downward header flashed just wide.

The home support making up the vast majority of the 50,850 crowd did not have to wait long for the opener.

In the 11th minute Gary Teale collected the ball wide on the right, looked up and curled in a cross towards the penalty spot where Rangers striker Kris Boyd was lurking.

The on-form forward, who scored a hat-trick for his club a fortnight ago, threw himself at the ball and sent a powerful header into the corner of the net beyond Georgia goalkeeper George Lomaia.

Scotland were well in control and they missed a glorious chance to take advantage in the 19th minute.

Wigan Athletic's Lee McCulloch tried a first-time shot from 20 yards but this was deflected into the path of Teale, unmarked six yards from goal.

As the Georgia defenders waited for an offside decision which never came, the Derby County player also seemed surprised there was no whistle and his weak effort was comfortably saved by Lomaia low to his right.

Kenny Miller had a chance in the 40th minute when Barry Ferguson's pass was dummied by Boyd, sending the Celtic striker clean through but instead of carrying the ball in on goal he tried a first time effort from 18-yards which was easily saved by Lomaia.

The home side were made to pay for this miss almost immediately.

Giorgi Demetradze received the ball wide on the left, twisted away from Scotland right-back Graham Alexander before swinging in a perfect cross for Arveladze to head past goalkeeper Craig Gordon from six yards.

In the second half Scotland looked the more likely side to score but Georgia were still dangerous on the counter-attack, and in the 68th minute Levan Tskitishvili was allowed to stride towards the goal before pulling a left-foot shot just wide.

Boyd was denied a second goal by the woodwork in the 69th minute when Miller played the ball into his path on the edge of the box, but his right-foot effort into the ground bounced over Lomaia and rebounded off the crossbar.

A minute later the Rangers striker should have scored when Gary Naismith's cross found him unmarked at the back post, only for him to completely miss the ball.

This was Boyd's last involvement in the game as he made way for Celtic forward Beattie, who emerged as the matchwinner.

Anelka winner

Later on Saturday, a winning second half goal from Nicolas Anelka earned France a 1-0 victory in Lithuania in Group B

The Bolton Wanderers striker scored the only goal of a dull game in the 74th minute with a low shot from just outside the box.

The World Cup finalists remain second in the standings with 12 points from five matches, level on points with leaders Scotland.

Raymond Domenech's side had their first chance in the 25th minute when an Anelka volley from a Sidney Govou cross was tipped away by Lithuania keeper Zydrunas Karcemarska.

Lithuania proved a tough nut to crack and were unfortunate to see defender Willy Sagnol clearing a Marius Stankevicius attempt on the stroke of halftime.

IThe Scots were three points clear of France, who were playing in Lithuania, and Ukraine, who won 2-0 away to the Faroe Islands in Toftir.

Ukraine dominate

Ukraine, who won 2-0 away to the Faroe Islands in Tofti, stayed in touch on nine points.

Ukraine, missing captain Andriy Shevchenko who was injured during training, dominated the match with 78-percent ball possession and 10 corners to the home side's three.

Volodymyr Yezerskiy scored the first for Ukraine in the 21st minute when he placed a shot in the top right corner of the net from outside the penalty area after a free kick.

Oleh Gusev scored the second low into the net from a header from Andriy Nesmachniy just before the hour.

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