Scotland's ailing World Cup qualifying hopes were given a late and much-needed boost when substitute Chris Martin scored a dramatic 88th minute winner which sealed a 1-0 win over Slovenia at Hampden Park.
Defender Russell Martin had the ball in the net early in the first half only to be punished for an infringement before striker Leigh Griffiths twice hit the woodwork.
Time seemed to be running out for Gordon Strachan's side but with two minutes remaining Martin - on for James Morrison - took a Stuart Armstrong pass and fired a low drive past goalkeeper Jan Oblak and in at the far post.
It took Scotland on to seven points from five fixtures at the the halfway stage of the campaign and into fourth place, two points behind second-placed Slovakia, ahead of the visit of Group F leaders England in June.
Slovakia won 3-1 in Malta. Malta striker Jean Paul Farrugia cancelled out Vladimir Weiss' second-minute opener, but the visitors regained the lead through Jan Gregus and Adam Nemec added a late third before he was shown a straight red card for his foul on Zach Muscat.
Poland extended their lead at the top of Group E to six points after a 2-1 win against closest rivals Montenegro in Podgorica.
Robert Lewandowski's free-kick gave Poland the lead five minutes before the interval and although Stefan Mugosa equalised after the break, Lukasz Piszczek's late winner secured his unbeaten side their fourth group win.
Montenegro still lie second, while Denmark and Romania remain third and fourth respectively following their goalless draw in Cluj.
Earlier on Sunday, Jermain Defoe returned with a bang as England overcame Lithuania, netting his first international goal in four years as Gareth Southgate's men secured a predictably comfortable World Cup qualification win.
Devastated to have been overlooked for the 2014 World Cup months after heading to Major League Soccer, few expected the 34-year-old to ever don the Three Lions again.
But Defoe's performances at Sunderland have belied his advancing years and earned a long-awaited England recall - a return marked by opening the scoring against Lithuania, with Jamie Vardy's smart finish wrapping up a straightforward 2-0 win.
The striker's 20th goal on his 56th cap - 1,227 days after his previous appearance - was made all the more special by the fact he led his country out with Bradley Lowery, the terminally-ill five-year-old who calls the Sunderland striker his "best mate".
It was already an emotive evening as tribute was paid to former England manager Graham Taylor and those affected by the Westminster terror attack, with those at Wembley responding with a dignified display in stark contrast to those who sung offensive chants in Germany.
An impressive 77,690 were in attendance for a qualifier that was always unlikely to be much of a tussle, with England finally breaking the resolve of the side 107th in the world when Defoe turned home midway through the first half.
Vardy's introduction in place of the Sunderland striker brought with it a second goal, with the finish as classy as Adam Lallana's assist on an evening that Lithuania threatened in patches but without a cutting edge.
Germany maintained their 100 per cent record at the top of World Cup qualifying Group C with a comfortable 4-1 win in Azerbaijan.
Dimitrij Nazarov cancelled out Andre Schurrle's close-range opener in Baku, but Germany responded through Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez to lead 3-1 at the break and Schurrle emphatically netted his second in the 81st minute.
Group C rivals the Czech Republic gave their qualification hopes a boost by thrashing San Marino 6-0 in Serravalle.
Four goals in nine minutes midway through the first half put the Czech Republic in complete control, with two from Antonin Barak sandwiching Vladimir Darida's effort before Theodor Gebre Selassie made it 4-0.
Michal Krmencik slotted home the Czech Republic's fifth just before half-time and Hertha Berlin midfielder Darida scored his second from the penalty spot in the 77th minute after Davide Simoncini's foul on Jaromir Zmrhal.
Armenia registered their second win in Group E as second-half goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aras Ozbiliz in Yerevan secured them a 2-0 win against 10-man Kazakhstan.
