Scotland fans are celebrating after the national team kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Haiti in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Around 5,000 ticketless supporters gathered at the official fan zone in Boston's city hall on Saturday night to watch the match on a huge screen.
Fan Zone Erupts
The atmosphere was electric from the start, with fans arriving early to catch a glimpse of Group C rivals Brazil and Morocco. When Scotland took the pitch, supporters broke into an emotional rendition of Flower of Scotland. The fan zone erupted on 28 minutes when John McGinn's deflected shot gave Scotland the lead, with fans embracing and beer flying into the air.
Nervous Second Half
As Haiti pressed in the second half, nerves set in. A hydration break saw many fans rush to the bar for beer, only to find alcohol service had ended. But supporters roared their team on with chants of 'We'll be coming down the road', and the full-time whistle brought a second huge cheer as the three points were secured.
Fan Reactions
Fraser Yates, 48, from Shieldhill, near Falkirk, said: "I'm delighted. This pretty much confirms qualification in the next round. It is surreal to be here. The whole city is buzzing." Alastair Stenhouse, 75, from Falkirk, added: "Everyone is delighted. Boston has been amazing." Scott McCunnie, 35, a lorry driver from Glasgow, said: "The first thing we did was make sure we could get tickets for the fan zone and it's been absolutely brilliant."
Journey to Boston
Daniel McMillan, 31, from Kirkcudbright, and Chloe Murphy, 28, from Annan, drove 42 hours from Canada, through three tornados, to be there. Daniel said: "My job is getting packed in... I'm staying for the knock-outs!" The fan zone also saw Haiti fans join the celebrations, with both sets of supporters dancing together at half-time.
City Centre Party
Earlier, the Tartan Army partied in Boston's Union Street area, with hundreds of fans spilling out of pubs, singing 'We've Got McGinn' and 'No Scotland, No Party'. Some fans kicked a football around, while others sang along to bagpipes. Supporters who had booked school buses to the match hung out of windows, singing 'Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio!'.
Sarah Richards, a nail technician from Aberdeen, was at the fan zone with her family. She said: "I've been crying. What a result. The atmosphere has been brilliant." Aileen Mackenzie, 39, from Larbert, added: "It's been a fantastic night. We can relax now and just enjoy the next two games."
