A GOAL in the fourth minute of time added on by Bristol City striker Abi Harrison gave Scotland a much-needed lifeline in World Cup qualifying at Hampden.

The Scots were much better in the second half but former Barcelona head coach Lluis Cortes came very close to securing a vital away win four days after meeting his Ukraine players for the first time.

His opposite number, and fellow Spaniard Pedro Martinez Losa, said: “There is frustration in terms of thinking we deserved more from the game. But on the other side we have to feel privileged that we got the goal in the last minute which was key for the option of qualification.

We controlled the game better in the second half and dominated the opponent. Abi is a young player who has good things in front of her.”

Martinez Losa made five changes from the side which needed another late goal, this time from Rachel Corsie, to beat Hungary 2-1 in last month's Hampden qualifier. The big surprise was Harrison.

The forward wasn't even in the original squad and had only three substitute appearances in 2018 and 2019 prior to being named in the starting line-up.

After a promising start, when Erin Cuthbert volleyed over the bar from 20 yards, most of the danger in the opening quarter came from Ukraine. Jen Beattie was turned by Roksolana Kravchuk, and although Boyle made a hash of clearing her low ball into the box, Olha Ovdiychuk's attempt on goal was a poor one.

Scotland paid for their slack defending when Ukraine went ahead in 22 minutes. Beattie failed to cut out Anna Petryk's low ball from the halfway line, leaving Kravchuk one on one with Lee Alexander. The striker took the ball into the box and placed it past the Scotland goalkeeper.

Scotland's best chance of a first half in which they were repeatedly caught on the break while providing little danger of their own without came after 36 minutes. Harrison got in behind the Ukraine defence but her right foot shot from 12 yards was again saved by Bondarchuk.

Martinez Losa replaced Beattie with Sophie Howard at the start of the second half and the central defender almost provided an instant equaliser. Cuthbert sent in a corner and Howard's header was only inches too high.

Unlike the first half, Scotland were causing Ukraine all sorts of problems but a demoralising defeat looked certain until Harrison headed home substitute Lana Clelland's cross.