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Hampden Park has witnessed many unforgettable occasions throughout its illustrious history since 1903. Add this game to the annals. Scotland's long drought has concluded. The manager, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose bending shot from 22 yards looked like it had clinched victory in a five-goal thriller before the substitute produced an still more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly 30 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have observed the global tournament from afar, were erased as Denmark fell to a loss in stoppage time. Adult fans in traditional dress cried. Denmark's chance in next summer’s tournament depends on playoff matches. Clarke and a now giddy country can begin planning concrete plans.

PhD students could develop papers on how exactly the team achieved this. They seemed finished at moments, as recently as Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Kicks Off

The evening had reportedly opened in tough fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of problem was banished in the first few minutes.

This was some of the most amazing goals scored at Hampden in modern history.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right. His floated cross should have been difficult for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from goal, initially. Instead, he propelled himself into the air and executed an scissor kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This famous stadium exploded, not only in appreciation of the opening goal but the special context in which it arrived. Amazing.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was performing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed dynamic. Scottish threat resonated in going on the offensive aggressively; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but Højlund could have been onside a VAR review if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to block a cross. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only the opening period.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely dangerously, a fact underscored as the defender turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly wide. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime without conceding. They were even robbed of a golden chance of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker forced the keeper into a smart, low save within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to do this, the half would feel like the decades since their last World Cup. Given Denmark only needed a draw, the flow of play right from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in stopping Danish offensives but immediately giving the possession right back to those in the away kit.

As the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of cordite associated.

The official initially saw no foul with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it seemed Isaksen went down into the air. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. The striker blasted into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the minimum the away side deserved but Scotland had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Late Drama

All this thrilling match lacked was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder earning another caution. Then the coach twisted by bringing on the forwards one substitute and another.

The move was to work out. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, letting the striker to score. The substitute, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had reason to be angry at how straightforward it was.

The home team had little time to build on their lead. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after a teammate laid into his path from close range from goal. This time Scotland were overly careless.

Adams directed a header wide. McGinn bending attempt narrowly missed the upright. Enter the defender and a moment capable of win any match. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, no less.