2 hours ago 
Image source, Getty
Winger Ben Gannon-Doak was Scotland's liveliest subordinate arsenic they edged retired Haiti for a archetypal World Cup triumph successful 36 years
ByAmy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland astatine Boston Stadium
With 54 minutes connected the clock, Ben Gannon-Doak fto retired a roar, clenched his fist and punched the aerial aft shielding the shot retired for a Scotland extremity kick.
The winger celebrated the infinitesimal similar he'd conscionable scored the winning extremity astatine the World Cup. This was seen arsenic Scotland's final, aft all.
The authentic, passionate outburst galvanised the Tartan Army dispersed passim the Boston Stadium stands who were possibly - and understandably - a small acrophobic astatine what was unfolding successful their tourney opener against Haiti.
He got it, though. The "wee man" got it. He got what it meant to the galore travelling Scots successful Massachusetts. He typified them.
Scott McTominay had recovered from a tummy bug to commencement successful Scotland's archetypal men's World Cup crippled successful 28 years. John McGinn - the eventual matchwinner - was fixed the motion from the off, too. Lawrence Shankland, the extremity machine, led the line.
And yet the amusement was stolen by a 20-year-old who wasn't adjacent calved erstwhile Scotland past featured connected the biggest signifier of all.
Two years ago, Gannon-Doak was thing of a astonishment inclusion successful Steve Clarke's squad for Euro 2024.
The teen ne'er made the level to Germany, though, arsenic helium was forced to propulsion retired done injury. That's benignant of been his communicative until now.
"The Euros astir apt came a spot excessively early, but I don't deliberation I would person played if I was there," helium told Sky Sports, external recently.
"I deliberation if I did spell and play, I wouldn't person fixed the champion relationship of myself that I cognize that I could person done."
There needn't beryllium immoderate specified worries here.
Electric and breathtaking connected the planetary stage, the Bournemouth wideman showed the satellite wherefore truthful galore Scotland supporters were scunnered erstwhile helium hirpled disconnected against Denmark - aft teeing up McTominay's overhead footwear - successful their last qualifier backmost successful November.
That wounded - his 3rd large 1 successful arsenic galore years - near his hamstring "hanging connected by a thread".
Such spells connected the sidelines person kept the eyes of the satellite astatine arm's length, but connected his large finals debut helium was successful afloat focus.
'I commune earlier games & work the book connected my own'
'I commune earlier games & work the Bible connected my own'
Being successful the spotlight is not caller to Gannon-Doak.
At 16, helium near Celtic for the agleam lights of the Premier League with Liverpool.
It was acold from a seamless determination south, though, with the lad from North Ayrshire discovering shot tin beryllium a lonely spot erstwhile injured and distant from home.
Then, helium rediscovered God.
Brought up a Catholic, Gannon-Doak admits helium "strayed distant from it" for a while, earlier "hearing God telephone me, with an impulse to get backmost into it".
"I conscionable felt God calling me," the 20-year-old revealed successful a movie for BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace earlier this year.
"I realised I started to consciousness a spot amended and stronger and started coping amended with things, and I conscionable thought, 'Oh, that's not a coincidence'. I deliberation that's the mode it happened for me."
With God connected his side, Gannon-Doak - who received a Bible from his gran - feels "strong and grounded" but it's thing helium practices successful private.
"I'm praying earlier games, I work the Bible connected my ain - I won't truly bash that successful the dressing country due to the fact that there's a batch of antithetic faiths successful football.
"It's besides conscionable amended to bash it successful backstage arsenic you tin truly focus. A dressing country tin beryllium rather chaotic astatine times, but it's astatine the basal of everything, including my football."
Image source, SNS
'He's what you privation a Scotland subordinate to be'
Though he's "not praying for hat-tricks", galore would person been asking the antheral supra for a favour oregon 2 arsenic Scotland eyed up their archetypal World Cup triumph successful 36 years.
It was evident aboriginal doors against Haiti that if thing was going to happen, Gannon-Doak would beryllium astatine the bosom of it.
Keeping it simple, erstwhile helium received the shot down the right, helium looked to attack. A show that makes Scotland supporters rejoice, specified has been its rarity successful caller times.
When McTominay skelped a post, it was connected the extremity of different dazzling Gannon-Doak burst. He acceptable up Che Adams soon aft for a changeable that would beryllium parried close successful the way of McGinn, who was wheeling distant successful ecstasy seconds aboriginal arsenic Scotland scored their archetypal World Cup extremity since 1998.
For 83 minutes, Gannon-Doak was the youngest antheral to look astatine a World Cup for Scotland. That's until his 19-year-old pal Findlay Curtis came on.
The brace play successful a care-free manner. They don't transportation the years of missed qualifications oregon adjacent the caller disappointments astatine the Euros. And it shows.
Gannon-Doak departed with 15 minutes to spell against the Haitians. A corporate gulp was inhaled.
"He had a cracker tonight," erstwhile Scotland winger Pat Nevin said connected BBC Sportsound.
"He's what you privation a Scotland subordinate to be," added ex-captain Scott Brown connected BBC One.
Like fewer others, Gannon-Doak gets the faithful going. Believing. Hoping.
Like the remainder of his generation, we've grown up believing 'it's the anticipation that kills you', but with this 20-year-old driving the team, it's hard not to.
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