For much of the afternoon at Hampden Park, Lawrence Shankland was little more than a supporting figure.
While George Hirst occupied the central striking role for Scotland, Shankland found himself drifting into deeper and wider areas, working tirelessly but rarely where he is most dangerous - inside the penalty area.
For an hour, the Rangers striker was largely on the fringes of a tense and underwhelming farewell fixture before Scotland depart for the United States. Then everything changed.
As Shankland began to take up more advanced positions, the rewards were immediate.
Given two opportunities, he converted both with clinical precision, scoring twice to transform an uneasy afternoon into a far more comfortable victory.
The performance only strengthened the argument that Shankland is Scotland's most natural goalscorer heading into a crucial summer.
His finishing instincts, composure, and consistency continue to make a compelling case for a leading role when the competitive action begins.
Scotland's comeback owed much to a pivotal moment before half-time.
At the time, Curacao led 1-0 and looked the stronger side.
Ranked 82nd in the world, they were organised, physical, and causing Scotland plenty of problems.
Hampden had fallen silent as Steve Clarke's side struggled to gain any momentum.
Everything shifted in the 38th minute when Curacao striker Jurgen Locadio was shown a red card for an elbow on Aaron Hickey.
The dismissal completely altered the complexion of the match.
Curacao's numerical disadvantage gradually took its toll, allowing Scotland to dominate possession and territory after the break.
While the final 4-1 scoreline appeared convincing, it masked a contest that had looked very different before the sending-off.
One of the biggest positives for Scotland was the impact of teenager Findlay Curtis.
The 19-year-old winger, who impressed during his loan spell at Kilmarnock, was thrust into action earlier than expected when Billy Gilmour was forced off through injury.
Making only his second international appearance, Curtis entered a difficult situation. Scotland were trailing, confidence was low, and the crowd was growing restless.
Three minutes later, he had scored.
Showing composure beyond his years, Curtis fashioned the opportunity himself before finding the net to bring Scotland back into the contest.
His influence did not stop there.
The youngster delivered dangerous crosses, drove at defenders with confidence, and consistently injected energy into Scotland's attack.
He later won the penalty that Ryan Christie converted to complete the scoring.
With Scotland lacking depth on the left flank, Curtis has significantly enhanced his chances of playing a meaningful role in the coming weeks.
Despite the victory, questions remain ahead of Scotland's final warm-up match against Bolivia in New Jersey.
Steve Clarke must still decide on his preferred tactical setup, whether to use a back three or a back four, and which attacking combination offers the best chance of success.
One debate, however, appears increasingly one-sided.
Shankland's latest brace means he has now scored 23 goals in his last 37 appearances.
Throughout the season, he has rarely gone more than a handful of matches without finding the net, underlining a remarkable level of consistency.
His recent record speaks for itself: five goals in five matches during May, two in April, and nine goals since the turn of the year.
At exactly the right moment, Scotland's most clinical striker is producing his best form.
Scotland now travel to the United States carrying some momentum, even if the performance raised as many questions as it answered.
The squad remains determined to make amends for the disappointment of their previous major tournament campaign, a competition that left players and supporters reflecting on missed opportunities.
This summer presents another chance.
There is still one friendly remaining before Clarke finalises his plans, but if Saturday's performance proved anything, it is that Lawrence Shankland has made an increasingly irresistible case to lead Scotland's attack when the tournament begins.
The timing could hardly be better.
