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Hampden Park has hosted numerous historic moments throughout its rich history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the annals. The Scottish protracted absence has concluded. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them Kieran Tierney, whose curling shot from distance looked like it had sealed victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean delivered an even more stunning fourth.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from afar, were erased as the Danish team suffered a loss in stoppage time. Supporters in kilts shed tears. Denmark's qualification in the upcoming tournament rests on playoff matches. Clarke and a now giddy country can start making solid plans.

PhD students could write work on how on earth the team accomplished this. They appeared defeated at points, just days before Saturday when suffering a loss in Greece. It was like destiny had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Begins

The night had reportedly started in tough fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warmup. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of disruption was banished within the opening moments.

It was one of the most wondrous finishes delivered at the stadium in living memory.

The winger maneuvered on the right flank. His floated pass should have been challenging for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to goal, initially. Instead, he propelled himself into the air and executed an overhead kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place erupted, not only in appreciation of the early lead but the unique circumstances in which it occurred. Incredible.

Midfield Battle

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed electric. Scottish danger shone in going on the offensive too ferociously; the goalkeeper denied from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but he could have survived a VAR review were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scottish goal and McKenna deflected well from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major blow to the manager, then, as the player strained when trying to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was called for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living far too dangerously, a fact highlighted as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just wide. Yet they made it to the break still ahead. They were even robbed of a golden opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made the keeper into a quick, low stop in the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since the tournament. Considering Denmark only needed a draw, the flow of play from the start of the half felt ominous for the hosts. They were succeeding – to a point – in disrupting Denmark offensives but immediately giving the possession right back to those in the away kit.

When the tying goal came, it came with the whiff of controversy associated.

The official originally saw no infringement with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared the player flung himself into the air. After being instructed to look again by the VAR, the referee awarded the spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the least Denmark merited but Scotland had cause to be upset about the call.

Late Action

All this exciting game lacked was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a attacking McGinn bringing a second yellow card. Then the coach twisted by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, letting the striker to finish. The substitute, brought on for his attacking prowess, produced precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had reason to be furious at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. In moments, a Danish player stroked home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path from close range from the net. This time Scotland were too careless.

The striker flicked a shot wide. McGinn curling attempt just missed the upright. Then came the defender and a moment fit to win the game. McLean provided the finish: from the halfway line, indeed.