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Hampden Park has witnessed numerous memorable events throughout its illustrious history since 1903. Remember this game to the annals. The Scottish long absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling strike from outside the box seemed to have secured success in a five-goal thriller until Kenny McLean produced an even more stunning final goal.

Almost 27 years of frustration, during which Scotland have seen men’s World Cups from a distance, were wiped away as the Danish team suffered defeat in stoppage time. Adult fans in kilts cried. The Danish participation in the next event hinges on playoff matches. The coach and a now jubilant country can begin planning solid arrangements.

Academics could write work on the manner in which Scotland achieved this. They seemed finished at points, no more recently than Saturday when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though someone, somewhere had decided the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were incredible.

The Night Kicks Off

The evening had supposedly started in challenging fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in central defence, was injured in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of disruption was banished in the opening moments.

This was one of the most amazing strikes delivered at Hampden in modern history.

The winger maneuvered on the wing. His floated cross was expected to be challenging for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to goal, for starters. Rather, he propelled himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium erupted, not only in appreciation of the first goal but the unique context in which it came. Wow.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. The home team's threat shone in attacking aggressively; the goalkeeper denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The assistant's flag was raised but he might have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender blocked effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to hold their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the player overstretched when trying to block a pass. He departed the scene on a stretcher after just 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very dangerously, a point highlighted as Hanley deflected a midfielder shot just off target. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime still ahead. They were even denied of a great opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund made 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 long wait since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the flow of play from the onset of the half felt ominous for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – partially – in breaking up Danish attacks but immediately giving the possession right back to the players in red.

When the equaliser came, it came with the scent of cordite attached.

The referee 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 dived into the air. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. The striker blasted home. On the overall play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side earned but Scotland had reason to be sore about the decision.

Late Drama

All this action-packed game lacked was a red card. It came on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking McGinn earning another caution. Now the coach twisted by bringing on the forwards one substitute and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an inswinging midfielder corner was poor, allowing the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, showed exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. In moments, a Danish player slotted into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his path inside the box from goal. This time the defense were overly lenient.

The striker flicked a header off target. McGinn bending attempt just went past the post. Then came Tierney and a strike worthy to win the contest. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, at that.