Scotland End 36-Year Wait for World Cup Win With Haiti Victory
John McGinn’s deflected first-half effort proved enough as Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-earned win in Boston.
Scotland made the perfect start to their World Cup campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston, with John McGinn’s deflected first-half strike proving enough to secure a precious victory and claim all three three points and go to top of Group C.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke made only one change from the side that had won 4-0 in last weekend’s friendly win over Bolivia, with vice-captain John McGinn coming in for Ryan Christie, who dropped to the bench, while Scott McKenna was ruled out by a calf injury.
Scotland started brightly, with Ben Gannon-Doak forcing an early save from Johny Placide in the third minute after cutting inside and shooting from the edge of the box. Scott McTominay then had a couple of good chances, heading over from Andy Robertson’s cross before coming even closer in the 17th minute, when he struck the right-hand post after more excellent work from Gannon-Doak on the wing.
Haiti began to settle, but Scotland still found the breakthrough shortly after the first drinks break. Che Adams produced a superb first touch to start the move, before Gannon-Doak again caused problems down the flank. The 20-year-old delivered a cross for Adams, whose shot was well saved, but the loose ball fell to McGinn, who fired home thanks to a deflection to score Scotland’s first World Cup goal since Craiug Burley scored against Norway at the 1998 France World Cup 28 years ago.
Even with Scotland on top, Haiti remained dangerous on the counter-attack, and Aaron Hickey had to make a vital last-ditch tackle in the 38th minute to stop Ruben Providence from converting a clear scoring chance. Gannon-Doak continued to be Scotland’s main outlet, and another piece of sharp skill in midfield sent him away again, though his cutback could not find McGinn.
Scotland had the first chance of the second half in the 55th minute when Robertson’s cross, which just evaded Lawrence Shankland, reached Gannon-Doak at the far post, but his effort was blocked. After the energy of the opening period, the second half became a tighter, more anxious contest, with little created before the second water break.
Following that pause, Scotland almost doubled their lead. Hickey’s sharp header released McGinn, who took a touch before dragging his shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post. Haiti responded soon after, with Providence firing a low effort just past the far post as the game began to open up again.
Clarke turned to his bench in the closing stages, introducing Nathan Patterson, Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie, Findlay Curtis and Lyndon Dykes. Scotland then survived a late scare when Frantzdy Pierrot headed narrowly wide with five minutes remaining, but that proved Haiti’s final opportunity as Clarke’s side saw out a priceless victory.
The narrow win leaves Scotland top of the group after Morocco and Brazil drew 1-1 earlier in the day. Scotland now return to the Boston Stadium on Friday to face Morocco in their second Group C match.
Haiti: Placide, Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience, Bellegarde, Jean Jacques, Deedson (Casimir 61), Providence (Fortune 85), Isidor (Joseph 76), Pierrot
Unused substitutes: Pierre, Duverger, Thermoncy, Lacroix, Metusala, Duverne, Paugain, Sainte, Simon, Pierre, Etienne, Nazon,
Scotland: Gunn, Hickey (Patterson 75), Hendry, Hanley, Robertson, Gannon-Doak (Christie 75), Ferguson, McTominay, McGinn (Curtis 82), Shankland (McLean 82), Adams (Dykes 75)
Unused Substitutes: Kelly, Gordon, Tierney, Fletcher, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Ralston, McKenna