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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless memorable moments throughout its long history dating back to 1903. Remember this match to the list. Scotland's long absence has ended. The manager, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose bending shot from outside the box appeared to clinched success in a five-goal thriller before the substitute delivered an even more stunning fourth.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have observed men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Supporters in kilts cried. The Danish participation in the next tournament depends on qualifiers. Clarke and a suddenly giddy country can prepare concrete arrangements.

Researchers could develop work on how exactly Scotland accomplished this. They appeared down and out at moments, just days before the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was like someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a place in the tournament. The actions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Unfolds

The match had reportedly started in tough fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in the back line, was hurt in the pregame. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of problem was dispelled within three minutes.

It was among the most wondrous goals delivered at the stadium in recent times.

The winger maneuvered on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s arched delivery ought to have been challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from goal, initially. Instead, he propelled himself into the sky and executed an scissor kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous stadium roared, not just in acknowledgment of the early lead but the unique situation in which it arrived. Amazing.

Midfield Contest

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. The young winger looked explosive. Scottish threat was evident in attacking with great intensity; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was up but Højlund might have been onside a VAR review were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender blocked well from another attacker, the home side were in a fight to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his pace. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, then, as the player strained when attempting to block a pass. He left the pitch on a stretcher after just the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing very dangerously, a fact further emphasised as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive just off target. But Scotland reached the break unscathed. They were even robbed of a golden opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly taking out McGinn, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of Danish slackness.

Final Period Action

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, down stop in the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the flow of play right from the onset of the half felt ominous for the hosts. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in disrupting Danish offensives but promptly giving the possession back to the players in red.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the whiff of cordite attached.

The official initially noticed no foul with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the box. Indeed, it appeared the player dived into the ground. After being advised to review by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund drilled into the net. On the run of play, parity was the minimum the away side merited but Scotland had cause to be sore about the call.

Final Heroics

All this action-packed encounter was missing was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen second foul of the night on a attacking midfielder bringing another caution. Then Clarke made a change by bringing on the strikers one substitute and another.

The move was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was disorganized, letting Shankland to score. The substitute, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, showed exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be angry at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. In a short time, a Danish player placed home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly generous.

Adams flicked a header wide. The midfielder's curling shot narrowly missed the upright. Enter Tierney and a moment capable of deciding the game. McLean added gloss: from the halfway line, at that.