Philadelphia, JUN 14: Scotland ended a 36-year drought for a win in the FIFA World Cup after beating Haiti 1-0 in their Group C clash at the Philadelphia Stadium on Sunday.
John McGinn’s deflected first-half strike proved to be the difference as Scotland climbed to the top of its group after Brazil and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw in their match earlier in the day.
The goal was also Scotland’s first in the World Cup since Craig Burley’s strike in the 1998 edition, which helped the nation snatch a draw against Norway in their group-stage clash.
Scotland, which had hit the post earlier with a Scott McTominay effort, at times struggled with the Haitians’ pace, but the Caribbean team, making its first appearance at the World Cup since 1974, lacked clinical finishing.
Haiti vs Scotland player ratings
Haiti
Johnny Placide (6.4), Carlens Arcus (6.4), Ricardo Adé (6.7), Hannes Delcroix (7.0), Martin Expérience (7.1), Louicius Don Deedson (6.5), Danley Jean Jacques (7.3), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (7.5), Ruben Providence (6.5), Wilson Isidor (5.9), Frantzdy Pierrot (6.0)
Substitutes: Josué Casimir (6.2), Lenny Joseph (6.0), Yassin Fortuné (no rating)
Scotland
Angus Gunn (7.7), Aaron Hickey (7.3), Grant Hanley (7.0), Jack Hendry (6.8), Andrew Robertson (7.3), Ben Gannon-Doak (7.0), Scott McTominay (7.0), Lewis Ferguson (7.3), John McGinn (7.8), Lawrence Shankland (6.7), Ché Adams (6.4)
Substitutes: Nathan Patterson (6.2), Ryan Christie (6.4), Lyndon Dykes (6.1), Findlay Curtis (no rating), Kenny McLean (no rating)
