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Scotland's national stadium has hosted many memorable moments throughout its long history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the annals. Scotland's protracted wait has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them Kieran Tierney, whose curling strike from 22 yards seemed to have secured success in a high-scoring affair before Kenny McLean delivered an still more spectacular final goal.

Almost 30 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the World Cup from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Adult fans in traditional dress shed tears. Denmark's qualification in the upcoming event rests on March playoffs. The coach and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can prepare definite arrangements.

PhD students could produce studies on how exactly the team pulled off this. They appeared finished at points, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Greece. It was almost as if fate had decreed the Scots had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Night Kicks Off

The night had apparently opened in challenging fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. All disruption was dispelled within the first few minutes.

It was one of the most amazing goals scored at Hampden in living memory.

The winger jinked and weaved on the wing. His lofted pass ought to have been difficult for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to goal, initially. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an overhead kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous venue exploded, not just in acknowledgment of the first goal but the remarkable situation in which it came. Incredible.

Game Contest

McTominay was playing like a player inspired. The young winger seemed dynamic. The home team's danger was evident in going on the offensive too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund may well have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland goal and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to block a pass. He left the field on a medical cart after only the opening period.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were playing far too dangerously, a point highlighted as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot narrowly off target. Yet they reached the halftime unscathed. They were even robbed of a great chance of a additional goal, a Danish defender smartly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of opposition slackness.

Second Half Drama

Højlund forced Gordon into a quick, down save in 90 seconds of the second half. If the Scots were going to succeed, the remainder would feel like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only needed a tie, the flow of play right from the start of the second period felt threatening for the hosts. They were succeeding – to a point – in stopping Denmark attacks but promptly giving the possession right back to the players in red.

As the equaliser came, it came with the scent of cordite attached.

The referee initially noticed no foul with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen went down into the ground. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Højlund blasted into the net. On the balance, parity was the least Denmark merited but Scotland had cause to be upset about the circumstances.

Final Drama

All this action-packed encounter lacked was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another yellow card. Now the coach twisted by throwing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, allowing the striker to score. The substitute, brought on for his predatory instinct, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had reason to be upset at how simple it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. Within three minutes, a Danish player stroked home after a teammate laid into his way from close range from the net. This time the defense were overly generous.

The striker flicked a header wide. McGinn bending shot narrowly missed the post. Enter Tierney and a goal fit to deciding the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the midfield, at that.