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Scotland's national stadium has hosted many unforgettable occasions over its rich history dating back to 1903. Include this match to the list. Scotland's protracted absence has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling effort from 22 yards looked like it had sealed success by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an even more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly 30 years of heartache, during which Scotland have watched the global tournament from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team fell to a loss in stoppage time. Adult fans in kilts shed tears. The Danish qualification in next summer’s event depends on playoff matches. The coach and a now giddy Scottish football community can prepare solid arrangements.

Researchers could produce papers on how exactly Scotland pulled off this. They seemed defeated at points, just days before the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was almost as if fate had decreed the Scots had waited long enough for a World Cup return. The contributions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Match Unfolds

The match had supposedly opened in tough circumstances for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley stepped in. All problem was forgotten in the first few minutes.

It was among the most amazing finishes produced at Hampden in living memory.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s arched pass was expected to be tricky for the midfielder to control. He was with his back to the net, initially. Rather, he launched himself into the air and landed an bicycle kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous old place roared, not simply in appreciation of the first goal but the special circumstances in which it came. Wow.

Game Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. The home team's danger was evident in attacking too ferociously; Craig Gordon denied from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition forward was sent clean through. The offside flag was raised but he may well have survived a second check if needed. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scottish area and the defender blocked well from another attacker, the home side were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danish team with his pace. It felt a big setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a cross. He left the field on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the goal in the goal but was called for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were living extremely dangerously, a fact further emphasised as Hanley deflected a midfielder shot just wide. Yet they reached the break unscathed. They were also denied of a golden opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the player capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Second Half Excitement

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, down stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, 45 minutes would be like the 27 years since the tournament. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the direction of play from the onset of the second period felt ominous for the hosts. They were succeeding – to a point – in disrupting Denmark offensives but immediately handing the possession back to the players in the away kit.

When the tying goal was scored, it came with the scent of controversy attached.

The referee initially saw nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen went down into the air. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Højlund smashed home. On the run of play, parity was the minimum Denmark deserved but the hosts had cause to be sore about the decision.

Final Action

All this exciting encounter was missing was a dismissal. It came on the hour, the defender's second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder earning another yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by introducing the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

This decision was to prove effective. Denmark's marking of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had cause to be angry at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. Within moments, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way 12 yards from goal. On this occasion the defense were overly careless.

Adams flicked a header wide. McGinn curling attempt just went past the post. Enter Tierney and a strike capable of win the contest. McLean sealed it: from the center circle, at that.