10,244 days to wait for a refractive sphere

28 years. Scotland's World Cup goal drought ended with a deflected shot that hit two defenders' legs and rolled slowly into the net.

John McGinn's 28th-minute strike wouldn't even make the top 10 goals of the week in the Premier League. But this is the World Cup. Scotland's last World Cup goal came in 1998, when Craig Burley scored against Norway. In the six tournaments since, Scotland hadn't even touched the grass of the finals. Twenty-eight years later, McGinn finally settled that debt at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The manner was far from elegant.

McGinn didn't pretend after the match: "I haven't come to terms with it yet. I'm annoyed we didn't get a second goal, but this is incredible."

1-0. Scotland won. Their first World Cup victory in 36 years, since beating Sweden in Italy in 1990. Among the 64,000 in the stands, the deep blue-clad crowd lost their voices.

The match was a mud-wrestling contest. 44 total fouls—23 by Haiti, 21 by Scotland. ESPN reported this as the highest foul count in a single match at this World Cup. The ball was hacked down as soon as it crossed midfield, shattering any rhythm.

Haiti held the ball like a rosary but couldn't get it on target. 53.7% possession, 15 shots producing an expected goals (xG) of 1.06—impressive numbers on paper. Look at shots on target: just 2, the same as Scotland's 9 attempts. Scotland goalkeeper Gordon had so little to do he could have counted the blades of grass. No matter how high the xG, it's worthless if the ball doesn't go in.

Haiti coach Migné didn't mince words after the match: "We played a high-level game. But one lapse can kill you."

Scotland had their own lapses. McTominay missed training due to stomach issues before the match, started anyway, and hit the post in the first half. Clarke's team struggled, with less than 47% possession and an 82% pass completion rate, three points lower than their opponents.

McGinn's shot deflected off two defenders' legs, and Haiti goalkeeper Plaçide, already committed, could only watch the ball roll into the net. Was it McGinn's goal or an own goal? FIFA officially credited it to McGinn, but anyone who saw the replay knows the truth.

The Haitians were even more frustrated.

After the match, a petition appeared on Change.org demanding FIFA investigate Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal. Haitian fans accused him of being blind, repeatedly ignoring Haiti's penalty claims and refusing to use VAR. The signatures quickly surpassed 150,000.

150,000 people signing for one call. Returning to the World Cup after 52 years, and they've already amassed 150,000 signatures of rage. Haiti's only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974 in West Germany, where Emmanuel Sanon scored their only two goals in history, against Italy and Argentina. Now, 52 years later, they're back and lost their first match—to a deflected goal, with a referee who allegedly missed a penalty. Anyone would be furious.

Migné tried to stay composed at the press conference: "The goal in playing a match is to win. On one hand, I'm very proud of what the boys showed tonight." The profanity swallowed after "on one hand" was clear to all Haitians.

When 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak started, he briefly became Scotland's youngest World Cup player. But the record didn't last—later in the same match, 19-year-old Finley Curtis came off the bench and snatched it away. Gannon-Doak was born when Scotland's last World Cup appearance was ancient history. Subbed off in the 74th minute, he explained it was due to cramp: "My two calves left the pitch before I did," he said bluntly.

Clarke didn't serve feel-good quotes afterward. Reuters quoted him: "This shows how hard it is for a country like Scotland to win a World Cup match. It doesn't happen often."

It doesn't happen often, but it happened tonight.

Scotland next face Morocco and Brazil. Clarke admitted they'll need a different approach. With less than 47% possession and 82% pass accuracy today, playing Brazil would likely be a slaughter.

That's for later. Tonight, among the 64,000 at Foxborough, Scots fans are raising their glasses. Haitians have no time for drinking—the 150,000 signatures on Change.org demanding an investigation into the referee keep climbing.