The frustration was etched on Lawrence Shankland's face as the ball rolled wide. Scotland, playing their first World Cup warm-up in 28 years, had carved open Bolivia with a sweeping move down the left – Kieran Tierney's cross finding the striker unmarked in the box. The replay showed a bad miss, a chance that should have been buried.
It was the defining moment of an otherwise encouraging performance from Steve Clarke's side. John McGinn, dropping deep and spraying passes wide, had shown his class as Scotland attacked into the shade in the second half. But the goal that would have put them ahead remained elusive.
“Scotland's World Cup return hit a frustrating note as Lawrence Shankland missed a golden chance against Bolivia.”
This was a historic occasion for both nations – the first time Bolivia and Scotland had ever met. For the Scots, it marked the start of a journey to their first World Cup since 1998. The Bolivians, meanwhile, fielded a mix of home-based players and emigres, including striker Paniagua, who plays for Wydad Casablanca, and Terceros of Santos in Brazil.
The match was played in 9pm UK time heat, with the sun beating down in the first half. After the break, Scotland were able to play into the shade, and it was then that their best chance came. Tierney's cross from the left was perfectly weighted, but Shankland's finish let him down.
With the World Cup looming, Scotland will need to be more clinical. The chance was there, and it was missed. The frustration on Shankland's face said it all.