Denmark tops the group with 11 points after five games.

Scotland, which could not find an equaliser despite clawing back from three goals down, is second with 10 points after suffering its first defeat of the campaign. Already-eliminated Greece has six points.

Greece looked poised to hand its visitor a thorough thrashing with goals from Tasos Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis.

But Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie pulled goals back to set up a breathtaking final few minutes.

Gannon-Doak first breathed some hope into Steve Clarke's side in the 65th minute when John McGinn sent in a low cross that the 20-year-old finished from close range for his first Scotland goal.

Christie added a second five minutes later when he nodded home Andy Robertson's gorgeous cross from the left.

After the final whistle blew, Scotland players and staff peered at their phones for updates from the Belarus-Denmark match during an agonising final few minutes.

"That's what we wanted [to still have a chance of qualifying automatically]," Scotland captain Robertson said.

"We cannot concede three goals, that's hugely disappointing. We had eight or nine really big chances so we got the attacking bit right tonight.

"Winner takes all on Tuesday [Wednesday AEDT], that's all we could ask for. People were writing us off from the start of the group now we've got a shoot-out to win the group and it's all to play for on Tuesday [Wednesday AEDT]."

Scotland's "Tartan Army" fans in Athens also had their eyes on the other Group C game, and erupted into cheers when Belarus scored.

"Fans cheering [when we were] at 3-1 down was strange," Robertson said.

Scott McTominay was one of several Scotland players who squandered excellent chances.

He fired a shot off the crossbar in the first half, and had a brilliant shot stopped by the lunging foot of Odysseas Vlachodimos late in the game.

"This group of players are a credit to themselves and their country because they didn't give up," Scotland boss Clarke said. "They got the goal back, got to 3-2 and had chances to get the equaliser.

"Some people might be happy with the improved performance but I'm disappointed with the result. We got a lucky break, Belarus got a result in Denmark and that gives us everything to play for on Tuesday [Wednesday]."