Scotland ended an often-painful season on a high by thumping Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 in Edinburgh.
News Source: soccernet.com
The Scots went in at the break 4-0 ahead, something which had not happened since Cyprus were beaten 8-0 in 1969, as the visitors from the Caribbean chased shadows from the start.
Darren Fletcher set the Scots on their way with a sixth-minute opener, Gary Holt bravely headed his first Scotland goal in the 14th, Gary Caldwell claimed the third from a corner in the 22nd and Nigel Quashie, the former England B international, made it 4-0 10 minutes before half-time.
After the break it was not quite so frantic and Stern John, the Birmingham striker who has declared he would like to join Rangers, pulled one back within 10 minutes.
A romp against a side ranked 75th in the world does not quite equal a rebirth for a side which had previously been brushed aside by Holland, Wales, Romania and Denmark but the whole event was certainly a crowd-pleaser for the Tartan Army, who had filled all but a few of the Easter Road seats.
Stevie Crawford might have put the Scots ahead in only the third minute when he was put clear by Fletcher but Crewe goalkeeper Clayton Ince made a fine block.
He could do nothing about Fletcher's opener three minutes later however as he had once again been left exposed, this time by an exquisite penalty-box backheel by James McFadden.
Vogts gave debuts to Livingston's Jamie McAllister at left-back and Hearts' 21-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
The latter's nerves showed early on when he almost fumbled a Malky Mackay backpass into the net.
But he recovered to enjoy a pleasing debut and played a significant role in goal number two, when his punt downfield found Crawford, who laid the ball back to Fletcher near the right flank.
The Manchester United man's delivery to the back post was met by the onrushing Holt, who was clattered by the goalkeeper as he headed home.
The third was also a Fletcher assist, from a corner that found its way to the back post. Gary Caldwell was the man who claimed it although it appeared to have been his challenger, Gillingham's Ian Cox, who got the last touch.
Quashie's goal was also an unfortunate one for the visitors and Ince in particular as he had just foiled Crawford, who had fired a good chance wastefully wide seconds earlier, with another block.
The rebound went straight to Quashie and the newly-qualified Scot slotted home the loose ball with little trouble despite being more than 25 yards out.
The Scots made a change in midfield 10 minutes after the restart when Brian Kerr came on for Holt.
John made it 4-1 within seconds however by converting a cross from the right from Wrexham's Carlos Edwards. Mackay insisted John had pushed him to get free in the box but Dutch referee Pieter Vink was interested only in awarding the goal.
McFadden had been the scorer in Tallinn with a fine solo effort but spurned a much simpler chance after the hour mark when Crawford crossed from the right.
No defenders could intercept but McFadden failed to make any contact six yards in front of goal and the chance was gone.
Kenny Miller replaced Crawford in the 68th minute before Gordon made a fine save low to his right to deny Trinidad substitute Andre Boucaud, who plies his trade at Peterborough.
With 18 minutes remaining Quashie was replaced by Portsmouth club-mate Richard Hughes on the left of midfield and eight minutes later Gary Caldwell was replaced by older brother Steven as the match rolled to a gentle stop.
Scotland are unused to back-to-back wins under Vogts, who was unable to call on 17 previous caps for a variety of reasons.
Some of those, such as Barry Ferguson and Christian Dailly, will go straight back into the side but the performances of some of the new caps - Quashie's in particular - means there is now an extra incentive for those absent elsewhere to make sure they are on top form once the World Cup campaign begins in September.
Original Story: soccernet.com
