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Hampden Park has hosted numerous unforgettable events over its long history dating back to 1903. Include this game to the list. Scotland's extended absence is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose bending shot from distance seemed to have clinched victory in a five-goal thriller until the substitute executed an more spectacular final goal.

Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have watched men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in added time. Supporters in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish qualification in next summer’s tournament rests on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly ecstatic football nation can start making concrete plans.

Researchers could develop papers on how exactly Scotland pulled off this. They looked finished at times, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Greece. It was as though fate had decided the Scots had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The actions of Tierney and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had reportedly opened in difficult fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to partner the centre-back in defense, was injured in the pregame. Grant Hanley took his place. All problem was forgotten within the opening moments.

It was one of the most wondrous strikes scored at Hampden in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s floated cross ought to have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous old place erupted, not only in appreciation of the early lead but the special context in which it occurred. Amazing.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. The young winger appeared dynamic. The home team's threat was evident in attacking with great intensity; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was raised but he could have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scottish area and the defender blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to hold their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his pace. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to block a cross. He departed the scene on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the net but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing far too recklessly, a point further emphasised as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just wide. Yet Scotland reached the break without conceding. They were even denied of a excellent opportunity of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Final Period Drama

The attacker forced Gordon into a quick, low save in the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to qualify, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the flow of play right from the start of the half felt worrying for the hosts. They were succeeding – somewhat – in disrupting Danish attacks but immediately handing the possession right back to those in red.

When the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of dispute involved.

The official originally saw no foul with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed the player went down into the ground. After being advised to look again by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. Højlund drilled into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the least Denmark earned but the hosts had cause to be sore about the call.

Late Drama

All this action-packed encounter was missing was a red card. It arrived on the hour, Kristensen second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the strikers one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, letting Shankland to finish. The substitute, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, produced exactly that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had reason to be angry at how simple it was.

The home team had little time to build on their advantage. In three minutes, a Danish player placed into the net after a teammate passed into his path inside the box from the net. This time the defense were too careless.

The striker directed a header wide. The midfielder's curling attempt narrowly missed the upright. Enter the defender and a goal worthy to win the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, no less.