Four-midable Scotland Hit Four as Bolivia are Swept Aside with Ease
Scotland were ruthless in the heat, with goals from Shankland, McTominay and Adams sealing a big win.
Scotland sent out a serious warning to their World Cup rivals by blowing Bolivia away 4-0 in New Jersey, producing a blistering first-half display that had the Tartan Army in dream land before next weekend’s opener against Haiti.
In searing 32-degree heat, Steve Clarke’s side came flying out of the traps and took the lead inside five minutes when Lawrence Shankland nodded home a brilliant Ryan Christie cross after the Bournemouth midfielder linked up neatly with Andy Robertson down the left. It was the perfect start.
Che Adams nearly doubled the lead moments later after a surging run from Ben Gannon-Doak, with Guillermo Viscarra forced into a low save. Scotland kept the pressure on, and their dominance was rewarded when Shankland flicked Christie’s delivery into the path of Scott McTominay, who smashed home from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.
Bolivia finally managed a sight of goal after the water break, but Angus Gunn was equal to Robson Matheus’ low drive. By then, though, the game was already slipping away from the South Americans, and Scotland were in complete control.
The third arrived through Adams, who rifled home from close range after another slick move involving Aaron Hickey and Gannon-Doak. Christie almost added a fourth moments later after a dazzling 50-yard run, while Gannon-Doak and Andy Robertson both went close as Scotland continued to carve through Bolivia at will.
The fourth goal came just before half-time and it was no more than Clarke’s men deserved. Gannon-Doak again caused havoc with a mazy run, Adams’ first effort was blocked, but the Torino striker was quickest to react and lashed in the rebound to make it 4-0.
Clarke rang the changes at the break, bringing on John McGinn and Kieran Tierney, while the second half became more stop-start. Gunn was forced into a sharp save from Carlos Melgar, and Shankland went agonisingly close to scoring his second of the night, when he side-footed Tierney’s cross just wide.
With the result long secured, Scotland made a raft of substitutions as Anthony Ralston, Kenny McLean, Findlay Curtis, George Hirst and Ross Stewart all got minutes. Late call-up Tyler Fletcher also earned his second cap, while John Souttar and Dominic Hyam came off the bench as Scotland cruised to a morale-boosting victory.
It was the kind of performance that will only crank up the belief heading into the tournament proper. Scotland now head to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a full week of training before facing Haiti in Foxborough next weekend, and after this showing the optimism will be off the charts.
Bolivia: Viscarra, Fernandez, Morales, Haquin, Rocha (Macazaga 46), Villamíl, Vaca, Matheus, Paniagua (Centella 46), Terceros, Ribera (Melgar 46).
Unused substitutes: Arroyo, Govea, Lampe, López, Nacif, Tórrez, Vivia, Zabala.
Scotland: Gunn, Hickey, Hanley (Hyam 80), Hendry (Souttar 80), Robertson (Tierney 46), Ferguson (Fletcher 80), McTominay (McLean 70), Gannon-Doak (Curtis 62), Christie (McGinn 46), Adams (Stewart 62), Shankland (Hirst 62).
Unused Substitutes: Dykes, Kelly, Gordon, Patterson, McKenna.