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Hampden Park has witnessed countless memorable moments over its rich history since 1903. Remember this one to the annals. The Scottish extended absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose bending shot from 22 yards looked like it had sealed the win in a five-goal thriller before Kenny McLean executed an even more breathtaking final goal.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered a loss in injury time. Adult fans in kilts wept. The Danish participation in next summer’s tournament depends on qualifiers. The coach and a suddenly giddy football nation can start making concrete plans.

Academics could produce studies on the manner in which the team achieved this. They appeared finished at points, as recently as the weekend when falling to defeat in Athens. It was as though destiny had decreed the Scots had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were remarkable.

The Night Begins

The match had apparently started in tough circumstances for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to play alongside Scott McKenna in the back line, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley took his place. All setback was banished within three minutes.

This was among the most wondrous finishes delivered at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s floated pass ought to have been challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from goal, initially. Instead, he propelled himself into the sky and planted an bicycle kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic old place exploded, not simply in appreciation of the opening goal but the unique situation in which it occurred. Wow.

Midfield Battle

McTominay was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak seemed electric. Scottish danger resonated in pushing forward too ferociously; Craig Gordon blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was in alone. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund could have survived a further inspection if it had been necessary. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scotland area and the defender blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to hold their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danish team with his speed. It felt a major setback to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to stop a pass. He departed the scene on a stretcher after just the first half.

The striker shortly had the goal in the net but was called for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing very on the edge, a fact underscored as Hanley turned a midfielder drive narrowly wide. Yet Scotland made it to the break unscathed. They were also robbed of a excellent opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the player capitalised on opposition carelessness.

Final Period Action

The attacker made the keeper into a quick, down stop within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to qualify, the half would be like the 27 years since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only needed a tie, the flow of play from the onset of the second period felt ominous for the home team. Scotland were managing – to a point – in breaking up Danish offensives but immediately handing the ball right back to those in red.

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

The referee originally saw nothing wrong with the captain's tackle on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen went down into the ground. After being instructed to check by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund smashed home. On the balance, the equalizer was the least Denmark merited but Scotland had cause to be angry about the decision.

Late Action

The only thing exciting encounter lacked was a red card. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder earning a second yellow card. Now the coach twisted by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to work out. The Danish defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, letting Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had reason to be angry at how straightforward it was.

The home team had little time to build on their lead. In moments, a Danish player stroked into the net after a teammate laid into his path from close range from goal. This time the defense were overly lenient.

The striker flicked a shot wide. McGinn bending shot just missed the upright. Then came the defender and a goal worthy to deciding the contest. The substitute sealed it: from the center circle, no less.