Lawrence Shankland bags a brace as Scotland hit back to beat 10-man Curacao

By Ronnie Esplin, Press Association

Lawrence Shankland staked his claim for a World Cup start with a brace in Scotland’s 4-1 friendly win against 10-man Curacao at Barclays Hampden.

Steve Clarke utilised his squad as promised with several regulars rested but the visitors, managed by 78-year-old former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat, took the lead in the 17th minute through a fine Tahith Chong goal.

Curacao striker Jurgen Locadia was sent off a for a late challenge on Scotland defender Aaron Hickey in the 37th minute, following a VAR intervention.

The departure of injured midfielder Billy Gilmour just before the break caused concern for the Tartan Army but replacement Findlay Curtis soon levelled with a drive, his first goal for the national team in his second appearance.

Shankland, who will join Curtis at Rangers next season after his move from Hearts was recently confirmed, struck twice in five minutes early in the second half before Ryan Christie added a fourth from the spot, giving the Scots their first home friendly win in 10 years.

Scotland’s final warm-up game is against Bolivia in New Jersey next Saturday before they return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, with section rivals Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in wait in the United States.

Hearts’ 43-year-old keeper Craig Gordon, who had recovered from a shoulder injury which had kept him out since January, started in a strong line-up albeit Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Kieran Tierney and Ross Stewart were absent.

Dundee’s 22-year-old centre-back Luke Graham, Hearts’ forward James Wilson, 19, and 19-year-old Manchester United midfielder Tyler Fletcher, 19 – son of former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher – were on the bench despite not being included in the World Cup squad.

In a low-key start to the game, George Hirst headed an Andy Robertson free-kick wide before the Scotland captain drove a 30-yard effort past keeper Eloy Room’s left-hand post.

The Blue Wave, ranked 82 in the world, looked dangerous on the counter and Sheffield United midfielder Chong’s goal came when he pulled the ball out of the air at the halfway line and raced towards goal before firing past Gordon despite the recovery of centre-backs John Souttar and Scott McKenna.

The Scots were stung into action.

In the 23rd minute Hirst’s powerful header from a Kenny McLean cross was saved by Room down at his left-hand post and the visitors survived before they found themselves a man short.

Locadia was shown a yellow card by referee Goga Kikacheishvili for his needlessly robust challenge on Hickey but after a VAR revision, it was unsurprisingly upgraded to a red.

There was a hush in the 40th minute when Gilmour pulled up with an injury and he was replaced by Curtis, who soon took a McLean pass inside the box, turned and fired low into the far corner of the net.

Fletcher came on to make his debut at the start of the second half, with Lyndon Dykes, Grant Hanley, Dom Hyam and Nathan Patterson also coming on.

Scotland, almost inevitably, dominated.

Room made decent saves from Shankland and Christie but had no chance when Shankland, who will officially join Rangers next month, swept in a Christie pass from 12 yards.

Then the unmarked striker took a pass from Dykes inside the box and drove in off the far post, before passing up his chance for a hat-trick moments later with a tame shot gathered by Room when through on goal.

When Curacao defender Jurien Gaari pulled down Findlay inside the box for a penalty, Christie swept in the spot-kick to complete the rout.