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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable moments over its rich history since 1903. Remember this one to the annals. The Scottish long absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from distance seemed to have sealed the win by the odd goal in five until Kenny McLean produced an even more spectacular clincher.

Almost three decades of heartache, during which Scotland have seen men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were wiped away as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Adult fans in traditional dress cried. Denmark's qualification in the upcoming tournament hinges on playoff matches. Clarke and a suddenly jubilant football nation can begin planning concrete arrangements.

Researchers could produce papers on the manner in which Scotland achieved this. They appeared defeated at times, no more recently than the weekend when falling to defeat in Greece. It was as though destiny had decreed the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were extraordinary.

The Match Unfolds

The evening had reportedly opened in tough fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in defense, was hurt in the warmup. His replacement filled in. All setback was dispelled within three minutes.

It was among the most amazing goals produced at the stadium in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s floated cross should have been challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Rather, he launched himself into the sky and landed an scissor kick past the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous old place exploded, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the special situation in which it arrived. Wow.

Game Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. The young winger looked explosive. The home team's threat resonated in pushing forward too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was through on goal. The offside flag was up but Højlund might have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a fight to hold their lead.

The winger had rattled the Danes with his quickness. It felt a major setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a stretcher after just the opening period.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were playing very dangerously, a point further emphasised as Hanley turned a midfielder drive narrowly off target. Yet Scotland reached the halftime still ahead. They were also denied of a excellent chance of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, earning a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund forced the keeper into a sharp, down save in a minute and a half of the restart. If the Scots were going to succeed, the half would seem like the decades since the tournament. Considering the visitors only needed a draw, the flow of play right from the start of the half felt ominous for the home team. They were succeeding – partially – in breaking up Danish attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

As the equaliser arrived, it came with the whiff of controversy involved.

The referee originally saw nothing wrong with Robertson tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen flung himself into the air. After being instructed to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker blasted into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark earned but Scotland had cause to be angry about the call.

Final Action

The only thing action-packed match was missing was a dismissal. It came on the hour, Kristensen second foul of the match on a attacking McGinn earning another caution. Then Clarke twisted by introducing the strikers one substitute and Che Adams.

This decision was to work out. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was shambolic, allowing the striker to score. The substitute, introduced for his predatory instinct, demonstrated precisely that. The opposition manager the coach, however, had cause to be angry at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. In three minutes, a Danish player stroked into the net after a teammate laid into his way inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too careless.

The striker flicked a header wide. McGinn bending attempt just missed the upright. Enter the defender and a goal fit to win the contest. The substitute added gloss: from the midfield, no less.