Haiti 0-1 Scotland: McGinn’s strike earns first victory for 36 years on World Cup return | OneFootball

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John McGinn etched himself into Scotland history by scoring the winner against Haiti in his country’s first World Cup triumph for 36 years at the Boston Stadium.

The Aston Villa and national team captain’s deflected strike 29 minutes in calmed the nerves building as the Haitians made a good go of their first appearance for over half a century.

McGinn nearly sealed their first win at the finals since 1990 with a quarter of an hour to spare before Frantzdy Pierot’s header went within inches of earning a first point in Haiti’s first World Cup match in 52 years, as Scotland survived a nervy final 10 minutes to seize top spot in Group C.

As it happened

A huge roar from the Scotland fans who had travelled in their numbers ushered in the beginning of Scotland’s long-awaited World Cup adventure.

Ben Gannon-Doak responded with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area minutes into the tie that was saved pretty comfortably by Haiti captain Johny Placide.

But it was a nervy next half an hour for the onlooking Tartan Army as the Haitians grew in confidence, punctured by Scott McTominay’s whipped shot rattling the post.

Haiti quickly broke up the other end but no player in white was able to get on the end of the outside of the boot delivery by right midfielder Don Louicius.

Scotland’s captain McGinn arrived late into the penalty area when Che Adams sent Gannon-Doak’s low cross against the post, rebounding kindly to the Aston Villa man.

His strike took a big deflection on its way looping into the net, as The Proclaimers’ classic tune 500 Miles echoed around the stadium as the Scotland fans celebrated a first goal at the tournament since 1998.

Angus Gunn brilliantly denied Rizespor striker Pierot’s point blank range effort, after parrying Ruben Providence’s low drive from the left, in easily Haiti’s best chance of the tie.

The goalkeeper’s heroics were then followed by Aaron Hickey making a great sliding intervention to ensure Scotland went into the break with their precious one-goal lead intact.

Little separated the sides in the second half of their historic encounter, as McGinn dragged another shot wide on 73 minutes that would have likely wrapped up the victory.

McTominay was caught trying to wheel away from his own box as the game approached a tense final 10 minutes, but Providence blasted the shot into a defender.

In a repeat of the first twenty minutes, Haiti were ramping up the pressure once more and had Scotland hearts in mouths as Pierot headed a pinpoint cross from the right just wide.

The Tartan Army in the Boston Stadium erupted at the end of eight agonizing added minutes, celebrating their return to the World Cup after 28 years in style, putting their even longer run of 36 years without a victory in football’s greatest competition.

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Haiti – Scotland Live Score