Bolivia 0-4 Scotland

Scotland’s dominant Che Adams scored twice as Scotland beat Bolivia 4-0 in their final friendly in New Jersey before their World Cup campaign begins next week.

In sweltering heat at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, Steve Clarke’s side took a four-goal half-time lead to give themselves the perfect confidence booster ahead of their opener against Haiti in Boston.

Clarke insisted before the game that starting spots are still up for grabs ahead of that match but Laurence Shankland’s early goal here – after his brace against Curacao last time out – will leave the new Rangers forward confident of leading the line at Gillette Stadium.

He combined well with Adams, whose brace, after Scott McTomine doubled Scotland’s lead, came after a well-worked passage of play that will have the Tartan Army dreaming of making a real impact on their team this summer’s tournament.

How Scotland caught fire in the New Jersey heat

There was certainly no repeat of the slow start Scotland fell behind against Curacao at Hampden last weekWith Steve Clarke’s side seemingly keen to make an early impression.

Indeed, they didn’t have to wait long for the Shankland opener. Ryan Christie picked up Andy Robertson’s run from the left-hand side and his floated cross was met by the 30-year-old, who threw off his marker to power a header past Guillermo Vizcarra in the Bolivian goal.

Adams almost got a quickfire second for the Scots but Vizcarra managed to keep his low effort wide of the goal.

Clarke revealed before the game that Shankland and Adams were working on their potential partnership for this friendly and after 20 minutes the pair combined well again. The goalscorer almost became the provider but Adams’ well-drilled effort from the edge of the box flew just wide of the post.

Scotland made it 2-0 a few minutes later, however, Shankland got his assist this time, laying the ball deep into the box for McTomine whose effort was pushed past Vizcarra who should have done better.

Angus Gunn was called into action for the first time in the match when he saved comfortably from Robson Matthews but could not stop Scotland at the other end as they extended their lead on the half-hour mark.

Bolivia’s defense left Ben Gannon-Doak in acres of space and the Bournemouth winger used his pace to hit the byline before laying a low ball into the path of Adams who found the net from six yards.

The Whiskers then did well to deny Gannon-Doke who fired a powerful effort after cutting inside at pace, before Robertson headed over the bar from close range, but Scotland were not to be denied for long.

Gannon-Doak was clearly enjoying himself, his pace causing the Bolivians all sorts of problems. He released the defenders with a powerful run from the well of his own half before finding Adams who smashed the ball into the bottom corner at the second attempt.

Clarke elected to make just two changes at the break with John McGinn and Kieran Tierney replacing Robertson and Christie but Scotland’s attacking threat did not abate as McTominay again went close as his side were forced into a number of early corners.

Gunn was called into action to keep Bolivia at bay as Scotland became a little too passive in the heat, but it was Clarke’s side who should have scored again.

McTominay picked out Tierney whose measured pass found a run at Shankland’s near post, but he couldn’t get his effort on target, much to his own dismay.

The game ends with a series of substitutions with a break. Although George Hurst should have scored the fifth with the clock ticking down, he could only tip his effort wide.

Despite a goalless second half for Scotland, Clarke will be delighted with a clinical opening 45 minutes which set his players up perfectly ahead of the country’s first World Cup game in 28 years next week.