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Scotland brought an end to their dire run of form with a 2-0 win over North Macedonia on Saturday night, but not before a pitch-invading dog brought the game to halt.
Nine minutes into the clash, a canine decided to go for a leisurely walk across the grass at Skopje's Tose Proseki Arena, prompting the clash to be paused with the Tartan Army 1-0 up.
North Macedonia's Sebastien Herrera attempted to usher the dog off the pitch, but it showed some impressive agility and a burst of speed to turn away from the left-back, before deciding to exit the pitch itself and let the match continue on its turf.
Speaking on the dog's pitch invasion, BBC commentator Liam McLeod said, “Not often you see that kind of pitch invasion, of the canine variety … Who takes their dog to the football? It has been retrieved.”
In response to the dog's interruption, former Scotland international James McFadden quipped: “There is plenty space for it in the stands anyway … Lovely placid dog as well, just out for a casual stroll.”
North Macedonia 0-2 Scotland: How the Tartan Army ended their drought
New Tartan Army manager Sebastien Pocognoli was looking for his first win as boss, following a 0-0 draw with Slovenia in his Nations League opener, and a 3-0 beating by Switzerland on September 29.
To make matters worse, Scotland arrived in Skopje having failed to score in any of their prior four fixtures, since the 1-0 victory over Haiti that kicked off the country's World Cup 2026 campaign on June 14.
With that in mind, fans were tempering their expectations before this weekend's showdown, but when Sassuolo striker Kieron Bowie put Pocognoli's side ahead with just seven minutes on the clock, supporters started to hope.
Had Scotland gone beyond minute 25 without scoring, they would have endured their longest goalscoring drought in 154 years, but that tensions was relieved by Bowie.
The dog's pitch invasion came just moments later – perhaps in response – and when John McGinn doubled the visitors' lead from the penalty spot in the second half, the points were firmly in the Tartan Army's hands.
Dinamo Zagreb centre-back Scott McKenna was sent off late on, but his dismissal had little impact on the outcome, other than drawing questions about Scotland's disciplinary record considering that Jack Hendry was shown a red card against Switzerland four days later.
FGG Says: Andy Robertson reaches milestone against North Macedonia
Saturday's victory also marked a 100th cap for Scotland captain Andy Robertson, who now sits just two shy of Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish for the national team's all-time appearance record.
The former Reds left-back has faced a difficult start to life after Anfield since joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, but his wealth of experience will continue to be important to the Tartan Army, who are entering into a new era themselves following Steve Clarke's resignation.