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Hampden Park has witnessed many unforgettable moments throughout its rich history dating back to 1903. Include this game to the annals. The Scottish protracted wait has ended. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose swerving strike from distance seemed to have secured success by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an more breathtaking final goal.

Nearly 30 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have observed the World Cup from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team fell to a loss in stoppage time. Supporters in traditional dress wept. Denmark's qualification in the next tournament depends on qualifiers. The coach and a suddenly giddy country can begin planning definite plans.

Researchers could write papers on how on earth the team achieved this. They appeared finished at moments, just days before Saturday when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though destiny had predetermined the Scottish team had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The interventions of the defender and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Begins

The match had reportedly opened in difficult fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been due to play alongside Scott McKenna in defense, was injured in the pregame. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of problem was banished in three minutes.

This was some of the most spectacular finishes produced at the stadium in modern history.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted cross ought to have been challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from the net, to begin with. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned stadium erupted, not only in appreciation of the early lead but the unique situation in which it arrived. Incredible.

Midfield Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. The home team's threat resonated in pushing forward with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was sent clean through. The offside flag was up but he may well have survived a VAR review if needed. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scottish area and the defender deflected effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a big setback to Clarke, then, as the player overstretched when attempting to block a pass. He departed the field on a stretcher after just the first half.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was penalised for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing far too recklessly, a fact highlighted as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot narrowly off target. Yet they reached the halftime still ahead. They were also denied of a great chance of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender cleverly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player capitalised on Danish slackness.

Final Period Drama

Højlund made Gordon into a quick, low stop in the opening moments of the restart. If Scotland were going to qualify, the remainder would seem like the 27 years since the tournament. Given Denmark only required a tie, the direction of traffic from the start of the second period felt worrying for the home team. They were succeeding – to a point – in breaking up Danish offensives but promptly handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of cordite involved.

The official initially noticed nothing wrong with Robertson tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to check by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The striker drilled home. On the overall play, parity was the least Denmark merited but the hosts had cause to be angry about the circumstances.

Late Drama

All this action-packed match was missing was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a marauding McGinn bringing another yellow card. Then the coach made a change by throwing on the strikers one substitute and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their lead. Within moments, a Danish player placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his path inside the box from the net. On this occasion the defense were overly generous.

The striker directed a header wide. McGinn curling attempt narrowly missed the upright. Then came the defender and a strike worthy to win any match. The substitute added gloss: from the center circle, at that.