Scotland suffered a friendly defeat against Turkey in Diyarbakir by conceding soft goals either side of the break.
It was just the third loss in 16 for Steve Clarke’s side, who looked shaky defensively in the first meeting between these nations in 62 years.
Ozan Kabak got in between two defenders to head in a free-kick, before Cengiz Under finished off a great break after finishing Stuart Armstrong’s possession.
John McGinn gave the Scots hope but his superb strike was a mere consolation.
Indeed, for all the visitors rallied and might have had a penalty when Lyndon Dykes was wrestled into the box, the Turks could have been out of sight earlier.
Five places behind Scotland in 45th, they hit the frame of the goal and were denied on several occasions by Craig Gordon on his 700th senior appearance.
A bright spot for the Scots was the debut of 19-year-old Liverpool right-back Calvin Ramsey, who Clarke chose not to use from the start.
Instead, the head coach went with a tried and trusted lineup perhaps in recognition of the test that lay before him. His players wilted under the test and escaped with a reasonably soft result, although they rallied with the game on.
For the first time in an international match in Diyarbakır, the intensity of the home crowd matched the quality of the men in red. It meant a lot and it showed on the pitch.
From the start, Turkey went to Scotland’s back line. Captain Hakan Calhanoglu’s initial shot was blocked by Gordon and the Inter Milan playmaker played an important role, particularly in the first half, when another effort deflected off the goalkeeper’s legs.
Scotland had a good chance when Armstrong sent a lovely ball into the six-yard box that just parried Dykes, but more scares would follow when Andy Robertson deflected an effort over his own bar and Quebec cracked a header off the bar. resulting corner.
And Kabak would soon emerge from another set-piece, rising unchallenged to angle his header past Gordon from a Kalhanoglou delivery.
Defensively, Scotland looked ill at ease. They were almost caught out again with a simple diagonal ball but Gordon thwarted Smit Akden, so it almost felt like a relief that they only reached the break one behind.
However, this status did not last long. Armstrong may have slipped in Robertson while in possession on the edge of the Turkey box but he was robbed and run under before Scott McKenna finished brilliantly through the legs and away from Gordon.
The game looked over, but out of nowhere McGinn stepped forward, rose to a challenge and fired a superb strike into the far corner. It was his 15th international goal – level with James McFadden – and suddenly Scotland looked reborn.
There was a double penalty shout from Clarke when Dykes and McKenna appeared to tussle trying to meet a deep delivery and Hendry connected with another ball at the back post but it was off target.
Substitute Ryan Christie also came close, but his angled shot went wide after an excellent move.
