Sporting Kansas City winger Johnny Russell earned his first start and fifth career cap for the Scotland Men’s National Team on Saturday night, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 friendly defeat at the hallowed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Saturday marked Russell’s first appearance for Scotland since Oct. 11, 2015, when he featured in a 6-0 win over Gibraltar in UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying. The 28-year-old Russell created Scotland’s best opportunity of the match in the 49th minute when his pinpoint cross was headed onto the post by Oliver McBurnie.
A pair of MLS stars combined for Mexico’s decisive goal in the 13th minute as LAFC forward Carlos Vela teed up LA Galaxy midfielder Giovani dos Santos for a low strike from the top of the box.
Saturday’s friendly concludes a two-game trip to the Americas for Scotland, which fell 2-0 at Peru on Tuesday without Russell’s services. Mexico, meanwhile, will play one last tune-up next Saturday against Denmark before kicking off its 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign on June 17 versus reigning champion Germany in Moscow, Russia.
Russell will return to Sporting KC next week for a two-game road swing that begins Wednesday at Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round. Manager Peter Vermes’ men will then travel further west to face the Portland Timber next Saturday in a marquee Western Conference clash.
