Forgotten Scotland man ends 501-day exile in style as international teammate suffers horror debut

Gauld, 30, had missed the bulk of the campaign due to arthroscopic knee surgery, but was named in the starting line-up for the first time since the MLS playoff final defeat to Inter Miami on December 6, 2025, as the Whitecaps took on FC Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium in Ohio.

Wearing the captain’s armband, the hosts took an early lead through Pavel Bucha on nine minutes, only for Jeevan Badwal to equalise just three minutes later. However, the Whitecaps then took the lead when Gauld’s effort from distance took a wicked deflection and squeezed past Roman Celentano.

Sign up to The Scotsman’s daily football newsletter to get unrivalled Scottish football news and analysis - subscribe for free here.

The home side would restore parity just before the half-hour mark as Kevin Denkey headed home from close range, before Evander Ferreira’s drive bounced in off the post to fire the hosts into the lead at the half-time break. Another goal from Bucha on 58 minutes looked to have ended the game as a contest, only for Gauld to blast home the best goal of the game just two minutes later, as he cannoned a wicked left-footed drive from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

His side were unable to find their desired equaliser in the final 30 minutes of the clash; however, his brace saw him reach a milestone for the Canadian outfit, with the ex-Dundee United man now surpassing 100 goal contributions for the club since he joined from Portuguese side Farense in the summer of 2021.

Meanwhile, fellow Scotland international Angus Gunn had a debut to forget for new side San Jose Earthquakes as their title hopes took a major hit with a shock 4-0 home defeat to struggling Orlando City. The former Nottingham Forest stopper was named in the starting line-up for the first time since his free transfer move earlier this month, but was picking the ball out of his net after just nine minutes when David Brekalo nodded home the opener.

The visitors doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Ivan Angulo’s shot went under the body of Gunn, before former France star Antoine Griezmann added a third moments after the restart after a mistake from left-back Jamar Ricketts. Orlando then added a clinching fourth on 73 minutes when Braian Ojeda’s header somehow squirmed past the Scotland stopper and into the bottom corner.

Elsewhere, Ryan Porteous helped his Los Angeles FC side roar back into title contention with a strong performance at the heart of defence against Real Salt Lake. The former Hibs defender, who hasn’t played for Scotland since March 2025, had found himself left out of Marc Dos Santos’ starting XI before the side’s World Cup break after a barren run had seen them slide down the table after losing four consecutive MLS games.

However, with Porteous restored to the line-up, Los Angeles have now recorded two consecutive wins since the MLS restarted earlier this month. Opening the scoring through former Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-Min after just 10 minutes, Denis Bouanga doubled their lead five minutes before the break. An own goal from DeAndre Yedlin sealed a comfortable victory for the home side.

Playing the full 90 minutes, Porteous had the joint-most defensive contributions in the game (12), making eight clearances, three interceptions and one block. Next up for the Black and Gold is a visit from Sporting Kansas City this Sunday. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3.30am UK time.