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.
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FULL-TIME: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland make a winning start to the World Cup, despite their best efforts.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
McLean catches Casimir high on the knee with his studs but remarkably seems to have escaped with a yellow card. You’ve seen people sent off already at this tournament for much, much less.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
90+3mins: Scotland clear their lines, but Haiti come again through Pierrot, who forces a good parry from Gunn.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Free-kick to Haiti, about 35 yards from the byline. This could be the game, folks.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
There will be six added minutes here.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
85mins: Pierrot heads wide! That was a great chance to level it up.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
83mins: McGinn and Shankland come off for McLean and Curtis. Can McLean produce another late stunner here as he did against Denmark?
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
An attendance figure of 64,146 is announced as a “full house”, despite the Boston Stadium’s reported capacity being some 500 seats greater than that. Go figure.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
78mins: Scotland are facing a period of very high pressure from Haiti. Patterson makes a smart block to give them a corner, which is well cleared.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
75mins: Three Scotland changes now. Christie, Dykes and Patterson replace Hickey, Gannon-Doak and Adams.