Romania ease past Scotland

Romania's Ioan Ganea(L) battles with Scotland's Neil McCann during their international friendly in Glasgow

Romania added to the pressure on under-fire Scotland boss Berti Vogts with a 2-1 friendly victory at Hampden Park.

Goals either side of half-time from Cristian Chivu and Daniel Pancu put Romania 2-0 up before Scotland substitute and Everton striker James McFadden pulled a goal back in the 57th minute.

Defeat meant Scotland had conceded 12 goals in their last three games following 6-0 and 4-0 thrashings by the Netherlands and Wales respectively.

To make matters worse for Vogts, John Kennedy's Scotland debut came to an abrupt end with what looked like a serious ligament injury.

Celtic defender Kennedy, 20, had been called up following impressive displays in the Bhoys' UEFA Cup win against Barcelona and the Old Firm victory against Rangers.

But Kennedy's night turned sour when he went into a challenge with Romania striker Viorel Ganea, who plays his club football at English Premier League strugglers Wolves, and had to be stretchered off.

Ganea appeared to go over the top of the ball and catch the former Scotland Under-21 captain high on the leg.

Only three players remained from the team overwhelmed by Wales in Cardiff, captain Christian Dailly and Wolves duo Colin Cameron and Kenny Miller the survivors.

But Vogts's changes had as much to do with lack of fitness as tactics, 11 of the German's possible international players sidelined with injuries.

Romania stamped their class on the game early on, passing the ball with ease and Ganea should have done better when, after exchanging passes with Florin Cernat, he shot wastefully wide.

Romania's Ioan Ganea(L) battles with Scotland's Steven Pressley during their international friendly in Glasgow

Rangers striker Steven Thompson then went close for Scotland, his header from Neil McCann's cross shaving the post.

But it was Romania who had the bulk of possession and, after Ganea had spurned another good opportunity, they took the lead in the 37th minute.

Cameron conceded a free-kick outside the box and compounded his error by being a member of a defensive wall which split as Chivu fired in his strike. The ball then deflected off Cameron and past wrong-footed keeper Paul Gallacher, playing in place of injured Celtic No.1 Robert Douglas.

In the second half Romania eased further ahead with a well-worked goal in the 51st minute. Pancu swopped passes with Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu, leaving Scotland defender Steven Pressley floundering, before lashing the ball past the luckless Gallacher from close range.

But Vogts's decision to bring on 20-year-old former Motherwell striker McFadden soon after Romania scored their second changed the character of the game.

It took McFadden just minutes to make his mark when, after receiving Dailly's pass in a central position outside the area, he easily went past Chivu before finishing with all the composure of a veteran.

His goal was Scotland's first in a Hampden friendly since retired striker Ally McCoist netted against Australia back in 1996.

McFadden almost had a second in the 78th minute when, after Scotland won a free-kick on the edge of the box, he curled the ball just over the bar.

But Romania rarely looked in trouble and in the end won comfortably.