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Hampden Park has been the stage for numerous unforgettable events throughout its illustrious history since 1903. Add this match to the record. Scotland's extended drought has ended. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. Along with them Kieran Tierney, whose curling strike from outside the box seemed to have secured the win by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean executed an more stunning clincher.

Almost 27 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 defeat in stoppage time. Supporters in traditional dress cried. The Danish participation in next summer’s event depends on playoff matches. The coach and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can start making definite arrangements.

PhD students could develop papers on how exactly the team achieved this. They looked finished at moments, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Athens. It was as though fate had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had apparently opened in tough fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in the back line, was hurt in the pregame. Grant Hanley took his place. All disruption was forgotten within the opening moments.

This was some of the most wondrous goals scored at the stadium in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery should have been difficult for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Instead, McTominay launched himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place erupted, not just in appreciation of the first goal but the remarkable circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak looked dynamic. Scottish danger shone in attacking with great intensity; Craig Gordon denied from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was in alone. The offside flag was raised but Højlund could have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scottish goal and McKenna deflected well from another attacker, the home side were in a battle to maintain their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a big loss to the manager, then, as the player strained when attempting to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a stretcher after just the first half.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were living far too on the edge, a fact highlighted as Hanley turned a midfielder drive just off target. Yet Scotland made it to the break still ahead. They were even robbed of a great opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the player took advantage of Danish slackness.

Second Half Drama

Højlund made the keeper into a quick, low stop in a minute and a half of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, 45 minutes would feel like the decades since their last World Cup. Considering Denmark only needed a tie, the flow of attacks from the start of the half felt threatening for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – somewhat – in disrupting Denmark attacks but immediately handing the ball back to the players in the away kit.

When the tying goal came, it came with the hint of cordite associated.

The official originally noticed no foul with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. Indeed, it appeared the player went down into the ground. After being instructed to check by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund drilled into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark merited but Scotland had reason to be angry about the decision.

Late Heroics

The only thing action-packed game was missing was a red card. It arrived on the hour, the defender's second foul of the night on a attacking midfielder bringing a second caution. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

This decision was to work out. Denmark's defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was disorganized, letting the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had cause to be upset at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu placed into the net after a teammate laid into his way from close range from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too lenient.

Adams flicked a header wide. McGinn bending attempt narrowly went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a moment fit to win the contest. McLean added gloss: from the midfield, at that.