A LATE bolt from the red, white and blue by Cobi Jones, the dreadlocked winger who failed to establish himself at Coventry City, condemned Scotland to defeat by the United States after they had taken an early lead here yesterday in their penultimate friendly before the European Championship finals.
While the result was an embarrassment for Scotland - their first defeat by the Americans after three previous wins by an aggregate of 11-0 - they will not be unduly concerned, given the practice match atmosphere and the surprisingly good quality of a US team in which John Harkes was a model of industry and invention.
Scotland's bright opening, against hosts who stand 13 places above them - at 14th in Fifa's world rankings - soon brought them to their feet.
Gordon Durie, on his first appearance in the national side for two years, had already set up a chance for Scot Gemmill, which Jurgen Sommer smothered well, before scoring himself.
Craig Burley initiated the breakthrough with a pass to Darren Jackson. When his low cross was turned against the near post by Scott Booth, the ball rebounded obligingly for the Rangers striker to run in his fifth goal for Scotland from barely five yards.
The Scottish flags flapped proudly in the breeze, but in their defence, Derek Whyte was also flapping. Recalled as understudy to Alan McLaren, Whyte was soon exposed by a fine reverse pass from Harkes. Tab Ramos tumbled under his clumsy challenge, allowing the US's record scorer, Eric Wynalda, to collect his 23rd goal in 70 matches from the spot.
Booth, put in by Burley, wasted an opportunity to restore Scdtland's advantage, lofting the ball over Sommer and his crossbar.
Gary McAllister was even more profligate after the interval. His first contribution after appearing as a substitute, was to stab wide.
Harkes, the US captain and one of the nine players on view who helped to beat England three years ago, revealed playmaking talents not always evident during his sojourns with Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.
The Harkes Wynalda link, this time manifested in a throw in from the former that caught the Scots napping, would have put the US ahead by the hour had the latter's shot been marginally lower.
Watched by his Dundee born, New Jersey based father, Harkes had a chance to cap his display with a goal of his own. Breaking in the inside right channel, he tried to beat Jim Leighton on his near post, but slightly misjudged the angle. Unperturbed, he continued probing and, with 18 minutes remaining, had his reward.
Taking Harkes' pass 25 yards out, Jones drove his seventh international goal over Leighton's flailing arms to seal a deserved American victory.
