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Scotland's national stadium has hosted numerous historic moments throughout its rich history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the annals. The Scottish protracted absence has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose bending effort from distance seemed to have sealed success by the odd goal in five before the substitute produced an still more spectacular fourth.

Almost 27 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have observed the global tournament from afar, were erased as Denmark suffered a loss in stoppage time. Adult fans in traditional dress cried. The Danish qualification in the upcoming jamboree depends on playoff matches. Clarke and a now ecstatic football nation can begin planning definite plans.

PhD students could develop work on how exactly Scotland accomplished this. They seemed down and out at points, no more recently than Saturday when falling to a loss in Athens. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Kicks Off

The evening had apparently started in challenging fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to partner Scott McKenna in central defence, was injured in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of disruption was forgotten in the opening moments.

This was among the most spectacular goals produced at Hampden in living memory.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted cross should have been difficult for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Rather, he launched himself into the sky and executed an scissor kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium erupted, not simply in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the unique circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed electric. The home team's threat resonated in going on the offensive aggressively; the goalkeeper saved from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund might have been onside a second check were it required. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scotland area and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a significant setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a cross. He left the scene on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the ball in the net but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very on the edge, a point underscored as the defender turned a midfielder shot just off target. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime without conceding. They were also robbed of a golden chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Second Half Action

The attacker forced Gordon into a quick, down stop within the opening moments of the restart. If Scotland were going to qualify, the half would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the direction of attacks right from the start of the half felt threatening for the hosts. They were managing – partially – in stopping Danish offensives but immediately handing the ball back to the players in red.

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

The official initially noticed nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on the winger on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared Isaksen flung himself into the ground. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker smashed into the net. On the overall play, the equalizer was the least the away side merited but Scotland had reason to be sore about the circumstances.

Final Heroics

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

This decision was to pay dividends. Denmark's defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was disorganized, allowing the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his attacking prowess, showed precisely that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had cause to be angry at how easy it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. Within three minutes, a Danish player placed into the net after a teammate laid into his path 12 yards from goal. This time the defense were too lenient.

Adams directed a shot off target. The midfielder's bending shot narrowly went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a strike worthy to deciding the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, no less.