Match ends, Moldova 0, Scotland 2.
Scotland clinched a World Cup play-off place with a game to spare thanks to a composed victory in Moldova.
Nathan Patterson calmed the nerves with his first Scotland goal then teed up Che Adams to double the lead.
Craig Gordon's vital penalty save denied the hosts a late lifeline.
A fifth straight victory for Steve Clarke's men opens a seven-point gap - Israel are level with Austria after a 4-2 defeat in Klagenfurt - with Denmark already qualified as Group F winners.
Scotland complete the campaign against the Danes at Hampden on Monday when the hosts are likely to need a point to earn a home semi-final in the play-offs.
A year to the day since the epic play-off shootout over Serbia sent Scotland to Euro 2020, ending more than two decades of major tournament exile, another significant - and anxious - night awaited Clarke's men.
But they spared the Tartan Army further torture with an impressive and controlled performance where, once ahead, they never looked in danger.
The visitors had to do without in-form striker Lyndon Dykes, whose four-game scoring streak was halted by suspension, with Adams returning to lead the line.
The Southampton forward had a goal ruled offside in the opening two minutes - and repeated the feat after the break - as Scotland's glut of early chances failed to yield an opener.
Moldova, bottom of the group with a solitary point, are ranked 181st in the world but had proved an awkward obstacle in their 1-0 defeat at Hampden in September.
And it required Gordon's incredible save to deny them a shock opener here. A header from Artur Ionita, who earlier flashed an angled drive inches wide, bounced up off the turf and Gordon showed lightning-quick reflexes to turn the ball over the bar.
The scare stunted Scotland's momentum after they had peppered the hosts' goal. Stanislav Namasco impressively repelled strikes from Billy Gilmour and Stuart Armstrong, while captain Andy Robertson galloped clear but fired straight at the keeper when the far corner was the better option.
However, as half-time beckoned, Scotland crafted a marvellous goal. Billy Gilmour dug out a pass from the right touchline into the box to John McGinn, whose lay-off was perfect for Patterson to burst on to, take a touch and hammer into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot.
A moment to cherish, his first Scotland goal on his sixth cap, for the 20-year-old Rangers full-back. However, he will miss Monday's meeting with Denmark after a second-half yellow card.
Adams was unable to force the ball beyond Namasco right after the restart as Scotland sought the comfort of a second.
When it arrived shortly after the hour, it was another brilliant move. McGinn's backheel nutmegged his marker to release Patterson down the right and his cutback left Adams with a simple finish.
With the pressure off, Scotland turned on the style. Liam Cooper had a downward header booted off the line by Veaceslav Posmac, Adams bundled home the rebound from a Callum McGregor drive before being flagged offside, and Gilmour dragged wide.
Even when Patterson was penalised for handball following a VAR check, Gordon capped his superb display and prevented a nervy finale by diving to his right to parry Vadim Rata's spot-kick. Credit to Kieran Tierney, too, for racing in to prevent Rata netting the loose ball.
Stoke City striker Jacob Brown was handed a debut off the bench in the closing minutes as Scotland moved within two wins of their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Man of the match - Nathan Patterson
What did we learn?
Scotland were unflappable on a pressure-filled occasion where it would have been easy to get frustrated at their inability to find an early breakthrough.
Having begun the qualifiers with just one win in four, Clarke's men have completed a remarkable recovery which shows their progress and new-found winning mentality under Clarke.
Not since 2007 under Alex McLeish has a Scotland side won five consecutive games in 90 minutes.
While Patterson and Gordon were the headline acts here, there wasn't a letdown among the visitors. Bring on the Danes...
What did they say?
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke told Sky Sports: "It was a good performance, aggressive going forward and trying to create chances.
"A lot of shots but only two goals. The penalty could have made it nervy but when you need him, Craig [Gordon] is always there. All focus is Denmark now."
What's next?
Scotland round off their qualifiers against Denmark at Hampden on Monday (19:45 GMT).
Player of the match
GordonCraig Gordon
Moldova
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameNamascoAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number7Player nameIonitaAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number14Player nameMarandiciAverage rating
4.97
- Squad number9Player nameNicolaescuAverage rating
4.93
- Squad number2Player nameRevencoAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number11Player nameGînsariAverage rating
4.85
- Squad number15Player nameJardanAverage rating
4.75
- Squad number16Player nameIosipoiAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number3Player nameBolohanAverage rating
4.73
- Squad number13Player nameBogaciucAverage rating
4.69
- Squad number6Player nameRozgoniucAverage rating
4.67
- Squad number5Player namePosmacAverage rating
4.60
- Squad number18Player nameDrosAverage rating
4.54
- Squad number19Player nameCojocaruAverage rating
4.52
- Squad number22Player nameRataAverage rating
4.32
- Squad number17Player namePuntusAverage rating
4.20
Scotland
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameGordonAverage rating
8.14
- Squad number22Player namePattersonAverage rating
8.09
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
8.07
- Squad number14Player nameGilmourAverage rating
8.01
- Squad number6Player nameTierneyAverage rating
7.76
- Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating
7.63
- Squad number3Player nameRobertsonAverage rating
7.57
- Squad number16Player nameCooperAverage rating
7.11
- Squad number8Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number17Player nameS ArmstrongAverage rating
6.92
- Squad number13Player nameHendryAverage rating
6.81
- Squad number11Player nameBrownAverage rating
5.91
- Squad number18Player nameTurnbullAverage rating
5.47
- Squad number19Player nameNisbetAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number23Player nameMcLeanAverage rating
5.34
Line-ups
Moldova
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Namasco
- 15Jardan
- 5Posmac
- 3BolohanBooked at 58minsSubstituted forRozgoniucat 62'minutes
- 2Revenco
- 22RataBooked at 77mins
- 18DrosSubstituted forBogaciucat 61'minutes
- 7IonitaBooked at 61mins
- 14MarandiciBooked at 60minsSubstituted forIosipoiat 71'minutes
- 9NicolaescuSubstituted forPuntusat 71'minutesBooked at 72mins
- 11GînsariSubstituted forCojocaruat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Iovu
- 6Rozgoniuc
- 8Spataru
- 10Cociuc
- 12Celeadnic
- 13Bogaciuc
- 16Iosipoi
- 17Puntus
- 19Cojocaru
- 20Arhirii
- 21Cotogoi
- 23Calancea
Scotland
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Gordon
- 13Hendry
- 16Cooper
- 6Tierney
- 22PattersonBooked at 54mins
- 14GilmourSubstituted forMcLeanat 85'minutes
- 8McGregor
- 3Robertson
- 7McGinnSubstituted forTurnbullat 90'minutes
- 10AdamsSubstituted forBrownat 85'minutes
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forNisbetat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 2O'Donnell
- 5Souttar
- 11Brown
- 12Clark
- 15McKenna
- 18Turnbull
- 19Nisbet
- 20Ferguson
- 21McLaughlin
- 23McLean
- Referee:
- Srdjan Jovanovic
- Attendance:
- 3,642
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home2
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Moldova 0, Scotland 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Veaceslav Posmac (Moldova) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ioan Calin Revenco.
Post update
Foul by Jacob Brown (Scotland).
Post update
Artur Ionita (Moldova) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Marius Iosipoi (Moldova) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ioan Calin Revenco.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Patterson (Scotland).
Post update
Marius Iosipoi (Moldova) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Scotland. David Turnbull replaces John McGinn.
Post update
Kenny McLean (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ioan Calin Revenco (Moldova).
Substitution
Substitution, Scotland. Jacob Brown replaces Che Adams.
Substitution
Substitution, Scotland. Kenny McLean replaces Billy Gilmour.
Post update
Offside, Scotland. Billy Gilmour tries a through ball, but Che Adams is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. John McGinn (Scotland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
Post update
Liam Cooper (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova).
Post update
Corner, Moldova. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Post update
Penalty saved! Vadim Rata (Moldova) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
VAR Decision: Penalty Moldova.
Comments
Join the conversation
From an Englishman 🤝
There be some good teams in the draw but you are in it and have a chance
Who knows then what can happen, would take the likes of Ukraine or Wales
Anyway onwards and upwards.
We're not there yet but I think the Welsh are they're for the qualifying finale Mon the Tartan!!...
Hope Scotland don't require facing Wales for a spot at next year's WC tournament!
The more of The Home Nation's at a major tournament the better.