SCOTLAND’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time were left hanging by a thread after calamitous defending allowed Brazil to sweep them aside 3-0 in Miami and finish top of Group C.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Steve Clarke’s side went into the clash knowing a point against the record tournament winners could all-but secure a historic passage from the group stage, but on their defining night they once again became architects of their own downfall.
Scotland’s undoing began early when Scott McKenna, making his first start of the finals, hesitated on the ball and was dispossessed by Bournemouth teenager Rayan, who set up Vinícius Jr to calmly open the scoring for one of the tournament’s most prolific forwards.
The Real Madrid star—who has now scored in every group game—thought he had doubled his tally after picking Jack Hendry’s pocket and rounding Angus Gunn, but VAR intervened to rule the defender had been tripped in the build-up, sparing Scotland further punishment.
Carlo Ancelotti was visibly frustrated, but his talisman soon restored order, nodding in a second goal at the back post in first-half stoppage time after Scotland failed to clear their lines.
Brazil could easily have added more, with Vinícius Jr missing the chance of a hat-trick as the Selecao threatened to run riot. Scotland, however, went into the break trailing only 2-0 and will feel they were at least competitive in possession during spells of the first half.
Even so, the performance offered little consolation, especially given how often they have been undone in the tournament so far.
Without captain Andy Robertson—who was troubled by Rayan but repeatedly rescued by Gunn—Scotland again started the second half brightly but were quickly reminded of Brazil’s quality as they were repeatedly toyed with.
Two penalty appeals for Scotland went unanswered, and a Scott McTominay header forced a save from Alisson, but their resistance finally collapsed when Bruno Guimarães dispossessed Kenny McLean and teed up Matheus Cunha to smash home Brazil’s third.
The result leaves Scotland anxiously waiting to see if they can qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, having managed just one win in the group stage against Haiti.
Elsewhere in Group C, Morocco defeated Haiti in a dramatic encounter in Atlanta that ultimately denied the Caribbean side their first-ever World Cup point.
Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine scored late to secure victory for Morocco, who twice came from behind to complete the comeback.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari had earlier dragged Morocco level on two occasions, as Haiti—ranked 83rd in the world—produced one of their most spirited performances on the global stage.
Haiti had already been eliminated following defeats to Scotland and Brazil, but they stunned Morocco with an early breakthrough in the 10th minute when Lenny Joseph’s flicked finish deflected off goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net. The goal was officially ruled an own goal, denying Joseph a historic first World Cup strike since Emmanuel Sanon’s brace in 1974.
Morocco responded in the 39th minute when Hakimi bundled home after Johny Placide failed to deal with Brahim Díaz’s strike, before Wilson Isidor—Sunderland striker—produced a stunning 25-yard effort into the top corner to restore Haiti’s lead just before half-time.
However, Morocco equalised again in stoppage time through Saibari, who finished a slick move involving Hakimi to make it 2-2 at the break.
Placide produced several fine saves in the second half, but he was eventually beaten when Rahimi’s shot deflected off Ricardo Ade, before Yassine sealed the win in the final minute after Rahimi kept the ball alive following a VAR check.
Haiti exit the tournament bottom of Group C, while Morocco finish second and will face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the last 32 at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on June 30.