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Hampden Park has been the stage for many historic events over its long history dating back to 1903. Add this match to the record. The Scottish protracted wait has concluded. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. Along with them the defender, whose curling strike from 22 yards seemed to have secured success in a five-goal thriller until the substitute produced an still more breathtaking clincher.

Nearly three decades of disappointment, during which Scotland have observed the global tournament from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Supporters in kilts wept. The Danish chance in the upcoming tournament hinges on playoff matches. Clarke and a now ecstatic football nation can start making concrete plans.

Academics could produce studies on how on earth the team pulled off this. They seemed defeated at points, just days before the weekend when suffering a loss in Athens. It was like someone, somewhere had decided the Scots had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of Tierney and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had apparently started in difficult circumstances for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of problem was banished within the first few minutes.

It was among the most wondrous finishes produced at the stadium in living memory.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted cross ought to have been tricky for McTominay to control. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Instead, McTominay propelled himself into the air and landed an scissor kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This renowned venue erupted, not simply in recognition of the opening goal but the special situation in which it came. Amazing.

Game Struggle

McTominay was performing like a driven individual. The young winger appeared dynamic. The home team's danger shone in going on the offensive too ferociously; Craig Gordon saved from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was up but Højlund might have been onside a second check if needed. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scottish goal and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to maintain their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his pace. It felt a significant setback to Clarke, then, as the player strained when attempting to block a pass. He departed the scene on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

The striker shortly had the ball in the goal but was penalised for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely on the edge, a point highlighted as Hanley turned a midfielder drive just off target. Yet they made it to the break still ahead. They were also robbed of a great opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, earning a booking, after the player capitalised on Danish mistakes.

Final Period Excitement

The attacker made Gordon into a quick, down stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to qualify, the remainder would seem like the long wait since the tournament. Considering the visitors only required a draw, the direction of play from the start of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were managing – somewhat – in disrupting Denmark offensives but immediately giving the ball right back to the players in red.

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

The official initially saw no infringement with Robertson tackle on the winger on the angle of the penalty area. Indeed, it seemed the player flung himself into the ground. After being advised to look again by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund blasted into the net. On the overall play, the equalizer was the least the away side deserved but the hosts had reason to be upset about the call.

Late Drama

The only thing exciting match lacked was a sending off. It arrived on the hour, the defender's second foul of the night on a marauding McGinn earning another caution. Then the coach made a change by bringing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. The Danish defending of an curling midfielder corner was poor, allowing the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his goal-scoring ability, showed precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had reason to be angry at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to build on their advantage. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his path inside the box from the net. This time Scotland were overly careless.

The striker directed a shot wide. The midfielder's bending shot just missed the post. Enter the defender and a strike capable of deciding the game. McLean added gloss: from the center circle, no less.