John McGinn scored the only goal as Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a vital, if nervy, win over Haiti.
Scotland had waited 28 years to play in this competition, but come second-half injury time they were praying for it all to be over as waves of Haitian attack proved fruitless.
After Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 earlier in the day, the Scots find themselves first place in Group C, but whether they can maintain that standing after facing the Selecao in Miami this week is very much in the balance.
Scotland’s passionate Tartan Army fully rose to the occasion, but the same could not necessarily be said of those on the pitch, who, on the whole, were unconvincing.
From the off, they seemed slightly overawed by the occasion. There was apparent rust. Scott McTominay, who started despite missing training ahead of the tie with an upset stomach, headed a presentable chance over the bar from close range, before seeing a routine pass cut out, setting Haiti on the attack.
Scotland’s attacking approach was rather “route one” - long balls sent in search of Ben Gannon-Doak and Che Adams may not be revolutionary, but they were at least effective.
The opener - McGinn’s eventual winner - was created by that pair. Adams plucked Grant Hanley’s long-ball out of the air superbly without breaking step, before playing Gannon-Doak into space. His direct run and subsequent cross back to Adams forced Jonny Placide into an error, from which McGinn laced home via a deflection from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. McTominay’s earlier effort bounced emphatically off the woodwork following a similar driving run from the inspired Gannon-Doak.
And so, Scotland sat atop the group come the half-time whistle. It could have been different, though. Haiti had worked the ball into some dangerous areas but were dearly lacking in accurate crosses and worthwhile end product, suggesting a contentious second-half was in store.
Haiti were vastly improved after the break. Save for one McGinn effort sent narrowly wide and Gannon-Doak keeping his man on the back foot, Scotland were largely neutralised.
There were chances aplenty for the minnows, though, who enjoyed the majority of the possession after the break and missed some gilt-edge opportunities thanks to wayward finishing from Frantzdy Pierrot.
The first half suggested Clarke had sent out a pragmatic team well set up to neutralise Haiti’s greatest threats. In a sense, that is true. Wilson Isidor was entirely peripheral throughout and was quietly hooked after 76 minutes having managed just one shot.
It ended up a story of dogged defending with an element of good fortune. The wall of orange-clad Scots behind Placide’s goal, so vivacious and songful before the break, grew nervy and reactive.
On the pitch, Scotland dug in as the clock wound down. They defended solidly but were also the beneficiaries of a dull Haiti attack, which has run hot and cold in recent friendlies.
In injury time, Pierrot forced a save from Angus Gunn and nerves reached a flashpoint as Kenny McLean caught Josue Casimir with a clumsy high boot, for which he could well have been sent off.
But the resultant free-kick came to nothing and was followed by the full-time whistle.
Haiti are Scotland’s closest rivals in this group, where a third-place finish will likely be enough to see them through. With this victory over their closest group rival, the Tartan Army, after painting Boston red, can set one eye on the knockout rounds.
