Scotland recorded their first FIFA World Cup victory in 36 years after defeating Haiti 1-0 in their opening Group C match in Massachusetts.
A first-half strike from John McGinn proved decisive as Steve Clarke’s side marked their return to the World Cup finals with a hard-fought win that lifted them to the top of the group.
Scotland started brightly and nearly took an early lead when Ben Gannon-Doak forced goalkeeper Johny Placide into a low save after just three minutes.
Haiti responded with a spell of pressure and tested the Scottish defence, but Scotland gradually regained control. Scott McTominay came close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute when his first-time effort from the edge of the area flashed narrowly wide of the post.
The breakthrough arrived shortly before the half-hour mark.
After Placide blocked Ché Adams’ close-range effort, McGinn reacted quickest and saw his deflected shot find the net.
The goal ended Scotland’s World Cup scoring drought, which stretched back nearly 28 years, and also made the Aston Villa midfielder Scotland’s oldest scorer at a World Cup finals.
The goal sparked celebrations among the large Scottish support inside Gillette Stadium, and Lawrence Shankland almost doubled the advantage moments later when he headed narrowly wide from another dangerous delivery by Gannon-Doak.
Haiti remained a threat throughout the contest. Angus Gunn was forced into action after spilling a fierce strike from Ruben Providence, but Scotland’s defence cleared the danger.
The Scots nearly added a second goal early in the second half. Andy Robertson’s cross evaded Shankland but found Gannon-Doak at the back post, only for Martin Expérience to produce a crucial block.
McGinn then missed a golden opportunity to put the game beyond doubt when he dragged an effort wide under pressure from Ricardo Adé after the 70-minute mark.
Haiti pushed hard for an equaliser as the match entered its closing stages. Wilson Isidor came close to connecting with a dangerous ball across goal from Providence, while Frantzdy Pierrot glanced a header narrowly wide as Les Grenadiers searched for what would have been their first-ever World Cup point.
Providence continued to trouble Scotland and capitalised on a mistake from Jack Hendry in a dangerous area, but Nathan Patterson blocked his effort to preserve the lead.
Despite Haiti’s late pressure, Scotland held firm to secure a crucial victory and their first World Cup win since 1990 ahead of upcoming group matches against Morocco and Brazil.
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