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Scotland's national stadium has hosted many historic occasions throughout its rich history dating back to 1903. Include this match to the record. The Scottish extended drought has concluded. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose curling strike from 22 yards looked like it had sealed success by the odd goal in five until the substitute delivered an still more breathtaking clincher.

Almost 30 years of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have observed men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were wiped away as the Danish team fell to a loss in injury time. Grown men in kilts wept. The Danish qualification in next summer’s event hinges on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly jubilant football nation can begin planning concrete plans.

Academics could write studies on the manner in which the team accomplished this. They looked finished at points, just days before Saturday when falling to defeat in Athens. It was almost as if someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The actions of the defender and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Kicks Off

The evening had supposedly opened in difficult fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. All setback was dispelled within the opening moments.

This was some of the most wondrous strikes produced at Hampden in modern history.

Ben Gannon-Doak maneuvered on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s arched pass ought to have been difficult for McTominay to control. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, he launched himself into the air and planted an bicycle kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic old place erupted, not simply in recognition of the opening goal but the unique situation in which it came. Wow.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak appeared electric. The home team's offense shone in attacking aggressively; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was in alone. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund may well have been onside a further inspection if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scottish goal and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to keep their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danish team with his speed. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to stop a pass. He departed the pitch on a stretcher after just 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was called for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely dangerously, a fact further emphasised as Hanley turned a midfielder shot just wide. Yet they reached the break unscathed. They were also denied of a golden chance of a second goal, a Danish defender cleverly taking out McGinn, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of Danish carelessness.

Second Half Drama

Højlund forced Gordon into a quick, low stop in a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to qualify, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since World Cup participation. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the direction of play from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in disrupting Denmark offensives but immediately giving the possession right back to the players in the away kit.

When the tying goal came, it came with the scent of dispute involved.

The referee originally saw no infringement with Robertson challenge on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it seemed the player went down into the air. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the penalty spot. The striker blasted home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least Denmark merited but the hosts had reason to be angry about the circumstances.

Final Heroics

All this exciting game lacked was a sending off. It came on the hour, the defender's second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another caution. Then Clarke made a change by throwing on the forwards one substitute and another.

The move was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his goal-scoring ability, produced precisely that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. In a short time, a Danish player placed home after a teammate laid into his path inside the box from goal. This time Scotland were overly lenient.

The striker flicked a shot off target. McGinn curling attempt just went past the post. Then came Tierney and a strike worthy to win any match. The substitute provided the finish: from the midfield, indeed.