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Hampden Park has witnessed countless unforgettable occasions over its rich history since 1903. Remember this match to the list. The Scottish protracted drought has concluded. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose swerving effort from 22 yards appeared to secured the win in a high-scoring affair until the substitute executed an still more breathtaking clincher.

Almost 27 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have watched the World Cup from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Adult fans in kilts shed tears. Denmark's participation in the next event depends on qualifiers. The coach and a suddenly giddy football nation can start making concrete plans.

Academics could develop papers on the manner in which the team achieved this. They seemed finished at points, as recently as Saturday when suffering a loss in Greece. It was almost as if destiny had predetermined the Scots had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Match Begins

The match had supposedly opened in tough fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to play alongside Scott McKenna in the back line, was injured in the pregame. His replacement filled in. All disruption was forgotten within three minutes.

This was one of the most amazing strikes scored at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak maneuvered on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s arched cross ought to have been challenging for McTominay to handle. He was with his back to goal, initially. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the air and planted an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place roared, not only in recognition of the first goal but the remarkable situation in which it came. Incredible.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak looked dynamic. The home team's threat resonated in attacking aggressively; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The offside flag was raised but Højlund may well have survived a VAR review if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scottish area and the defender deflected effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to hold their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major blow to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to block a pass. He departed the scene on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were playing very on the edge, a point highlighted as Hanley deflected a midfielder drive narrowly wide. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime without conceding. They were also robbed of a great opportunity of a second goal, a Danish defender cleverly fouling the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player capitalised on Danish carelessness.

Second Half Action

The attacker made Gordon into a smart, low stop in a minute and a half of the second half. If Scotland were going to qualify, the remainder would seem like the decades since the tournament. Given the visitors only required a tie, the direction of play right from the onset of the half felt worrying for the hosts. They were succeeding – partially – in disrupting Danish offensives but immediately giving the ball right back to the players in red.

As the equaliser came, it came with the hint of cordite involved.

The official originally noticed nothing wrong with Robertson tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it seemed Isaksen went down into the ground. After being advised to look again by the VAR, the referee awarded the spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the overall play, parity was the minimum the away side deserved but the hosts had reason to be sore about the call.

Final Action

The only thing thrilling game was missing was a dismissal. It arrived on the hour, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing another yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to work out. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was shambolic, letting the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be angry at how easy it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. In three minutes, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after a teammate passed into his path 12 yards from the net. This time Scotland were overly generous.

The striker directed a shot off target. The midfielder's curling attempt just went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a goal fit to win any match. The substitute added gloss: from the halfway line, indeed.