Abi Harrison celebrates scoring Scotland winner against Austria in World Cup play-off

Scotland goal hero Abi Harrison says her extra-time winner against Austria was a moment to remember – but she doesn’t care who scores as long as the team progress.

Harrison’s late header won the World Cup play-off for the national team and took the side a step closer to the finals, setting up a must-win Hampden clash with Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.

The Bristol City forward came off the bench to make the difference in a tight game, and score her third goal for her country. Reflecting on the win and her pivotal moment, she said that it was one of the best of her career.

“It’s up there,” Harrison said. “I had a last-minute one against Ukraine as well.

“Two late goals and two headers. Anyone that knows me on the regular knows that’s not a thing for me. I’ll take them.

“I don’t remember much of the celebration. I just lost my head a bit.

“As long as we get that win I don’t care who scores. If it comes off a toenail or a header or a 40-yard screamer, if we get the win that’s all I care about.

“Obviously I’ve been lucky to score the goal but it takes all of us. It could have been anyone and I would have been just as happy.”

Harrison revealed that manager Pedro Martinez Losa had told her to “make a nuisance of herself” when he sent her on as a substitute after 75 minutes, and believes the team put in a professional performance particularly after the goal to frustrate Austria.

The forward said that the whole squad played their part, whether they were on the pitch or not.

“Whether you start or not, or maybe you’re watching from the stands, there’s a role for everyone,” she said. “We’ve got roles for people that are back home and haven’t made the squad. It really is a collective and we’ve gone through the bulk of this together with the same 30-35 players.

“We all know that we can have a massive role, even those who didn’t get on the pitch today but were cheering us on and giving us tips and tricks.

“It’s a great achievement but ultimately we know that we can enjoy so much more.”

The 24-year-old is now looking ahead to Tuesday’s play-off and hoping for a win, and results elsewhere to ensure that Scotland progress directly to the finals without having to go through an inter-continental play-off.

The idea of playing in the World Cup finals would be a dream come true for Harrison, who was earning her 13th cap on Thursday but not so long ago thought that playing at the pinnacle of the game might be out of reach for her.

She said: “It’s something I’ve thought and dreamed of but was it realistic for me? I’m not sure.

“It seemed a million miles away. Even when the girls were at the last World Cup I was still a fair bit away from the squad.

“So I’ve got my head down, worked hard and it would be a dream come true. I would be absolutely delighted just to be there and experience it.

“But I think our mentality has changed that we don’t go there just to make up numbers, it would be to go there and put a stamp on the ground, enjoy it, and show how good we are.”