Arthur Ferridge, Sports Reporter @ArthurFerridge at Boston Stadium
John McGinn scored the only goal as Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a nervous win over Haiti.
The Scots were playing on the global stage for the first time since 1998 as they trekked out to Boston, Massachusetts, and produced an entertaining game worthy of a near three-decade wait.
A route-one attack kept Haiti pinned for much of the first half, with Ben Gannon-Doak causing countless problems for his markers. It was one of his driving runs and subsequent cross which forced the Johnny Placide error that teed up McGinn’s opener – the eventual winner.
For Haiti, it is a disappointing return to the finals after an even longer spell away. Come the second half of this match they were vastly improved and dictated the pace of play, but sorely lacked a clinical edge and missed chance after presentable chance.
They were valiant in defeat but will be frustrated to sit bottom of the group after matchday one.
After Brazil and Morocco ground out a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, though, it is the Scots who sit top of the pile. Follow the match as it happens below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the Boston Stadium.
Source: standard.co.uk