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Scotland's national stadium has hosted many unforgettable moments throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the record. Scotland's long drought is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them the defender, whose bending shot from 22 yards looked like it had clinched success in a high-scoring affair until Kenny McLean executed an even more spectacular clincher.

Nearly three decades of disappointment, during which Scotland have observed the World Cup from the sidelines, were erased as Denmark fell to a loss in stoppage time. Grown men in kilts cried. The Danish chance in next summer’s tournament rests on qualifiers. Clarke and a suddenly giddy country can start making concrete plans.

Researchers could develop work on how exactly Scotland pulled off this. They appeared down and out at times, no more recently than the weekend when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though destiny had predetermined the Scots had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The actions of Tierney and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Begins

The night had reportedly opened in tough circumstances for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of problem was banished within the first few minutes.

This was some of the most amazing finishes produced at Hampden in recent times.

The winger jinked and weaved on the wing. The Bournemouth winger’s floated delivery should have been tricky for the midfielder to navigate. He was facing away from the net, initially. Instead, he launched himself into the air and planted an scissor kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium roared, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the special context in which it occurred. Amazing.

Midfield Contest

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak seemed explosive. The home team's offense resonated in going on the offensive too ferociously; Craig Gordon denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was through on goal. The offside flag was up but he may well have survived a VAR review if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland area and McKenna blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had panicked the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major setback to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when trying to stop a pass. He left the field on a stretcher after only the opening period.

The striker shortly had the goal in the goal but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very recklessly, a point underscored as Hanley turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive just off target. But Scotland reached the halftime without conceding. They were even denied of a excellent opportunity of a second goal, a Danish defender cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of opposition slackness.

Second Half Drama

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, low save within the opening moments of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, 45 minutes would seem like the 27 years since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the direction of attacks from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – partially – in disrupting Danish attacks but promptly giving the ball right back to those in the away kit.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the scent of cordite involved.

The referee originally saw no infringement with Robertson tackle on the winger on the angle of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to review by the VAR, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the balance, parity was the least Denmark deserved but the hosts had reason to be upset about the call.

Final Drama

All this exciting game was missing was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder earning another caution. Then Clarke made a change by bringing on the strikers one substitute and another.

The move was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, allowing the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be upset at how simple it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their advantage. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path inside the box from goal. This time Scotland were overly careless.

The striker flicked a header off target. The midfielder's curling attempt narrowly went past the upright. Enter the defender and a moment worthy to deciding the contest. McLean added gloss: from the midfield, no less.