Haiti v Scotland: McGinn the Hero as Tartan Army Celebrate First World Cup Win Since 1990
· Yahoo Sports
- John McGinn’s deflected 29th-minute strike gave Scotland a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their Group C opener at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
- Scotland secured their first World Cup win since beating Sweden in 1990, in a tournament appearance that ended a 28-year absence from the finals.
- Haiti, appearing at the World Cup for only the second time after West Germany 1974, remain in search of their first point at the tournament.
McGinn Fires Scotland to the Top of Group C
John McGinn’s deflected first-half goal proved the difference as Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium, earning Steve Clarke’s side their first World Cup victory in 36 years and sending the Tartan Army into raptures roughly 30 miles outside Boston. With Brazil and Morocco drawing 1-1 earlier in the day, the result lifted Scotland to the top of the Group C standings after the opening round of fixtures.
Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.
The Tartan Army had traveled in force, filling the stadium with a wave of red and creating a raucous atmosphere from the first whistle. The opening minutes were back and forth as both sides looked to find their footing. Scotland settled quicker. Scott McTominay headed over the bar seven minutes in, and the Napoli midfielder came even closer moments later when his shot clipped the top of the post.
Haiti held firm under that early pressure, but the breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute. Forward Che Adams deftly brought down a long ball and laid it off to Ben Doak, who swung a delivery toward the near post. Haiti cut out the initial cross, but the clearance fell kindly to McGinn on the edge of the box. The Aston Villa midfielder struck the shot from 13 yards, and the ball ricocheted off a Haitian defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide into the net.
“When it went into the back of the net, you could feel the Scotland fans,” McGinn said.
Following the hydration break Haiti found more space and began to create half-chances of their own. Ruben Providence came closest for the Caribbean nation, cutting in from the wing and whipping a low shot that Angus Gunn could not hold, sparking a frenetic scramble in the penalty area that Scotland eventually cleared.
The second half was equally energetic but produced few clear openings. McGinn could have doubled his tally after finding space in the Haitian penalty area, but the midfielder fired wide under pressure from Ricardo Ade. Moments later Providence almost created a goal from nothing, sending a low cross through the box, but Wilson Isidor was unable to connect at the far post.
Haiti had one final chance to level the score in the 84th minute. Frantzy Pierrot, who had been a handful for the Scottish defenders throughout, rose above them to attack a cross whipped in from the right. The striker made excellent contact with his header but the ball drifted just wide of the far post, and Scotland held on.
Clarke acknowledged the weight of expectation that had been lifted from his players’ shoulders. “We obviously have a little less pressure than everyone put on us in this game,” the Scotland coach said. “They deserve to be the team that finally got in under their belt in the World Cup.”
Haiti coach Sebastien Migne was left to reflect on the fine margins that separated the two sides. “We’re playing at an extremely high level. But you can get punished with one oversight,” Migne said.
Scotland’s last World Cup win had come against Sweden at Italia 90, and they had not even qualified for the tournament between 1998 and this edition. The victory over Haiti was the reward for a generation of Scottish players who had waited years for this stage. Scotland remain in Boston to face Morocco at Gillette Stadium on Friday, while Haiti head to Philadelphia to take on Brazil on the same day.