International Blues (Sat)

Last updated : 09 September 2009 By Brian Cartlidge

James McFadden scored the second Scotland goal in their 2-0 World Cup Group Nine qualifier against Macedonia at Hampden Park on Saturday.

McFadden scored with a superb solo effort nine minutes from the end of the match, this after Scott Brown had given the hosts a 1-0 lead on 56 minutes.

The Blues forward, who picked up a yellow card in the 45th minute and so therefore misses the Scots qualifier against Holland on Wednesday, went on to complete the full ninety minutes of the game in Glasgow whilst teammate Garry O'Connor was an unused substitute for George Burley's side.




New signing Teemu Tainio, signed from Sunderland on transfer window deadline day, was named in the starting XI for Finland in their Group Four qualifier in Azerbaijan.

The new Blues midfielder played the first 45 minutes of the game in Baku which resulted in an away win for the visitors.

The Finns came from a goal behind to win 2-1 at the Khazar-Lankaran Central Stadium - all three goals coming in the second half of the game.



Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor and midfielder Damien Johnson were named in the starting XI for Northern Ireland's World Cup Group Three away game against Poland.

Both Blues players completed the full ninety minutes as Nigel Worthington's side earned a 1-1 draw at the Slaski Stadium in Chorzow.

Kyle Lafferty opened the scoring for Ireland in the 37th minute but the Poles snatched an 80th minute equaliser through Mariusz Lewandowski.



Blues midfielder Seb Larsson was an unused substitute in Swedens World Cup Group One qualifier in Hungary.

The game at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest ended in a 2-1 win for the Swedes.

Former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg opened thes coring for the visitors on eight minutes before Sszabolcs Huszti equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot in the 79th minute. Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured victory for the Swedes by netting in the final minute of the game.



Blues' South American pair Giovanni Espinoza and Cristian Benitez were both selected in the starting XI for Ecuador in their 2-0 away defeat in a World Cup qualifying game against Colombia.

Both Blues players completed the full ninety minutes for Sixto Vizuete's side who had to play for most of the second half with just ten men after first half substitute Pablo Palacios was sent off 48 minutes into the game.

Jackson Martínez scored the first goal of the game for the Colombians nine minutes from the end of the match at Stadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín.

Blues' centre-back Espinoza received a yellow card on 83 minutes whilst the hosts doubled their score in stoppage time courtey of a Teófilo Antonio Gutiérrez goal.