SCOTLAND boss Craig Brown is ready to face the best in South America after seeing his side come within 11 minutes of victory over England's Group G rivals Colombia at Giants Stadium in New York. The Scots silenced a partisan Colombian crowd with an assured performance which bodes well for their World Cup opener against favourites Brazil in just 16 days time. Colombia needed a late Freddy Rincon equaliser to salvage a draw, the veteran midfielder finishing after a shot from former Newcastle favourite Faustino Asprilla had come back off both posts. "The game proved we can compete against a good South American side and that will give us confidence," said Brown. ''I thought it was a very encouraging performance, especially the way we played for an hour. We passed the ball well throughout the game and that was another encouraging sign. The only disappointment was that we gave away a couple of soft goals, which was a bit hard to take. But we have been working the squad hard in training since we arrived in New Jersey and I think we probably tired in the last 20 minutes." Colombia had taken the lead in the 22nd minute, when US referee Brian Hall pointed to the spot to punish Christian Dailly's tug on Wilmer Cabrera's shirt. Carlos Valderrama stepped up and sent Neil Sullivan the wrong way. But the Scots, who had looked full of purpose and running before that goal, hit back three minutes later. A clearance by Ivan Cordoba fell to Darren Jackson and the Celtic striker immediately picked out John Collins. The Monaco midfielder delivered a fierce drive from the edge of the area that left keeper Miguel Calero standing and hit the net via the underside of the bar. Scotland were starting to look impressive, a far cry from the side that had lost to France and Denmark and drawn with Finland in recent friendlies, and stunned the colourful Colombian fans by taking the lead in the 33rd minute, Craig Burley scoring his first goal in 24 international appearances. Jackson again had a hand in the build-up, releasing his Celtic team-mate, who drove the ball over the keeper from an acute angle before wheeling away in delight. Gordon Durie and sub Simon Donnelly both wasted gilt-edged chances to add to Scotland's tally before Rincon spoiled the Scottish party with his late strike, and Brown's biggest beef was with Derby star Dailly for conceding the penalty that led to Colombia's opener. "It was a very soft penalty and a needless one at that," he said. "You can't afford at this level to give away goals like that." Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez led his squad to second place in the World Cup qualifiers behind mighty Argentina, but he admitted that the Scots were difficult and competitive opponents. "We had many chances in the second half but we had to face a very strong rival," he said. Scotland's second and final match of their two-match tour of the United States comes next Saturday in Washington when they face the host nation.

McCARTHY EAGER TO PROTECT BOY ‘SAVIOUR' KEANE   REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Mick McCarthy has vowed to protect 17-year-old wonderkid Robbie Keane from the burden of being labelled his country's footballing saviour. The Wolves midfielder was outstanding in the 0-0 draw with World Cup finalists Mexico, almost capping a superb all-round display in his third international with a late winner. But his manager is hoping Keane will not be allowed to get carried away by his meteoric rise to the top. ''He is a very talented young man and he has got a big future in the game,'' said McCarthy. ''But I also think that to put that weight of expectation on him, the way we all tend to do, is a bit unfair. I wouldn't want to affect his performances by putting extra pressure on him. ''Young players have to grow up very quickly as it is and he has come from school to the youth team to international football in double quick time. Players don't get any education in handling that sort of pressure, from the media, agents and supporters. It is a very difficult transition for him and he will need the right assistance and advice from those around him.'' McCarthy has now conceded that Keane is in the running for a regular starting spot, even when his casualties have returned and the serious business of Euro 2000 qualifying begins against Croatia. ''His performances have forced him into contention and that it is the best way to do it,'' said the former Barnsley boss. ''He has got that nice arrogance on the field even though he's not at all like that off it. I'd call it a professional arrogance, that confidence in his own ability, and he's also a brave little bugger. If people rough him up, he picks himself up and gets on with it." As the 17-year-old now looks forward to six-weeks off before pre-season training with Wolves, McCarthy gave Keane a role model on which to gauge his future ambitions. ''He has got the ability, no question,'' he added. ''But now he has to look at the players like Paul McGrath who have played 50 or 60 games for Ireland and played well in every match. It is only when players do that they become one of the greats."

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