Scotland's years of World Cup hurt evaporate on heady but fraught night against Haiti

The defeat against Morocco in 1998, which for so long remained the Scots’ last match at this level, no longer carries bleak significance. They are back in the swing and are sitting top of Group C. Best of all their next World Cup match is now just days away.

John McGinn’s deflected effort after 28 minutes meant Foxborough replaced Bordeaux as the last place where Scotland scored a World Cup goal. The Norfolk County town also supplants Genoa as the last site of a Scottish World Cup victory, 36 years ago. If it could yield one more on Friday against Morocco, or even a draw, then Scotland will never want to play anywhere else than this stadium.

Oh this was epic, it was emotional. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon had tears streaming down his cheeks at the anthems and he wasn’t even playing. Angus Gunn won that battle.

When fans lamented Scotland’s absence from the top table, this was why. Everything about the occasion screamed big time. The stadium was magnificent, a three-tiered structure holding 65,000 fans. For one night only, it was a sea of salmon pink. At one point the colour of the Scotland away top, worn by the players and what seemed like 90 per cent of the crowd, matched the night sky as the sun set behind the jumbotron screen at the west side of the ground.

Even the hydration break was used as an opportunity to send dancers out onto a concourse while booming music played, Eurythmics specifically during the first break. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This.

It had started to be tough going for Scotland after a bright start. After just over 10, 200 days, Lawrence Shankland rolled the ball back from the centre spot and we were off, 28 years of hurt officially melted away. There were a few melting in the upper deck following a whole day’s drinking but as darkness descended the drama became utterly captivating.

It was never going to be easy. After a strong start, Scotland began to wobble slightly. The key seemed to be to get the ball to Ben Gannon-Doak, whose opposite number, Ruben Providence, was taking the decision to stand off him. Pace is a frightening thing. But there’s the plan to get the ball to him and there’s actually doing it.

The 20-year-old gave notice of his intent early on when running at the Haiti defence, though the resultant shot was too tame. ‘Keeper Johny Placide saved easily. McGinn then set up Shankland but his shot was blocked.

It wasn’t all Scotland. Untypically for him, Aaron Hickey was guilty of having his pocket picked by Providence but the cross behind the forwards. Scotland survived. When Wilson Isidor just failed to connect with a header, it was time to start officially worrying for Steve Clarke’s side. The manager had already begun to prowl the sidelines.

Some relief was sourced when McTominay played the ball that seemed so obvious into space for Gannon-Doak. The winger teased and taunted his opposite man before pulling the ball back for McTominay, who smacked a shot against the right upright. The ball was hit so firmly it rebounded almost all the way back to Boston, 28 miles away. A water break was timely. Grant Hanley seemed to push his luck somewhat while tangling with Isidor just before it.

Penalty claims fall on deaf ears

Mercifully, Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal was not asked to review anything while sipping his Powerade, Fifa’s official hydration drink.

A couple of minutes later, Scotland struck. The goal owed everything to a brilliant touch from Che Adams as he pulled a long ball from Grant Hanley out of the air before laying it back for Gannon-Doak, whose cross was met at the near post by Adams. Placide made a good block and McGinn followed up. While the strike might have taken two heavy-ish deflections, it felt like it belonged in the same section of the Louvre devoted to great Scotland goals. They all count and this one certainly did, taking McGinn up to 21 goals and just one short of Lawrie Reilly in fourth place in the all-time rankings.

It might have been two just after the half hour mark. Shankland could not connect firmly enough with a – yes, you’ve guessesd it – Gannon-Doak cross. Angus Gunn got down well to a shot from Providence but he allowed the ball to squirm away to create mass alarm for Scotland in the six-yard box. They survived. Hickey then did well to mop at the back after a break from Hannes Delcroix. Scotland made it to half-time still in front, the first target. The second waterbreak was the next summit to aim for. Scotland got there as well, though what they wanted – another goal – was proving elusive. Shankland failed to reach a teasing Robertson cross and then McGinn pulled a shot wide before being clattered by Ricardo Aide.

A second goal was beginning to look ever more necessary. Clarke rang the changes, bringing on Ryan Christie, Nathan Patterson and Lyndon Dykes, Gannon-Doak, Hickey and Adams taken off. Kenny McLean and Findlay Curtis joined the subs on the park with eight minutes left. Haiti continued to press. The changes, as much as Clarke had to make them in the suffocatingly humid conditions, seemed to disrupt the Scots rather than ignite them.

The opposition weren’t going away. Frantzdy Pierrot’s header flashed past Gunn’s far post with five minutes left. The same player had another chance shortly afterwards but failed to connect while falling backwards, allowing Gunn to gather.

There was sweet relief when the final whistle went. The players remained on the pitch longer than normal to salute the fans, seemingly further recognising this victory's profound significance. A more granular assessment of its merits, or otherwise, might come after everyone has had a good sleep.