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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable events throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Include this match to the list. Scotland's extended wait has concluded. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. Along with them Kieran Tierney, whose swerving effort from distance appeared to secured the win in a high-scoring affair before the substitute executed an even more stunning final goal.

Nearly 30 years of frustration, 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 stoppage time. Supporters in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish chance in the next tournament depends on March playoffs. The coach and a suddenly jubilant football nation can begin planning solid arrangements.

PhD students could write work on how exactly the team accomplished this. They appeared down and out at points, just days before Saturday when falling to a loss in Greece. It was almost as if fate had predetermined the Scots had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The actions of the defender and McLean were incredible.

The Match Begins

The night had apparently started in difficult fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been due to play alongside Scott McKenna in central defence, was hurt in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. All disruption was forgotten in the first few minutes.

This was one of the most wondrous finishes scored at the stadium in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak maneuvered on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery ought to have been challenging for the midfielder to control. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, he launched himself into the air and executed an scissor kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This renowned old place exploded, not only in acknowledgment of the first goal but the special circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak appeared electric. The home team's offense shone in attacking aggressively; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund may well have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scotland area and McKenna blocked well from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to maintain their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a significant setback to Clarke, at that point, as the player overstretched when attempting to block a pass. He departed the field on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was flagged for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were living far too dangerously, a point highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder drive just off target. Yet Scotland reached the halftime still ahead. They were even denied of a golden opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made Gordon into a smart, down stop within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, the remainder would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Given the visitors only required a draw, the flow of traffic from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in disrupting Denmark attacks but promptly giving the possession back to the players in red.

When the tying goal was scored, it came with the hint of controversy involved.

The official originally saw no infringement with the captain's challenge on the winger on the angle of the box. In fact, it seemed Isaksen flung himself into the air. After being instructed to look again by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the penalty spot. The striker drilled home. On the overall play, parity was the least the away side merited but the hosts had reason to be angry about the circumstances.

Final Heroics

All this action-packed encounter lacked was a red card. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing a second yellow card. Now Clarke made a change by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, allowing Shankland to strike. The substitute, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had reason to be furious at how simple it was.

The home team had little time to build on their lead. In moments, a Danish player placed into the net after a teammate passed into his path inside the box from goal. This time Scotland were overly lenient.

Adams directed a header off target. McGinn bending shot just missed the post. Enter Tierney and a goal worthy to deciding any match. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, at that.