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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable moments throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the record. Scotland's long drought is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. So too Kieran Tierney, whose swerving strike from 22 yards appeared to clinched success by the odd goal in five until the substitute delivered an even more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly three decades of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from a distance, were erased as Denmark suffered a loss in added time. Adult fans in kilts wept. Denmark's qualification in the next tournament depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can start making solid plans.

Researchers could write papers on how on earth the team pulled off this. They looked down and out at moments, no more recently than the weekend when falling to defeat in Athens. It was like fate had decided the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Night Kicks Off

The match had reportedly started in challenging fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the pregame. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of problem was banished within three minutes.

This was among the most amazing strikes scored at the stadium in living memory.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted cross should have been difficult for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the air and landed an overhead kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous old place roared, not simply in appreciation of the first goal but the unique context in which it occurred. Amazing.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. The young winger seemed dynamic. The home team's threat was evident in attacking too ferociously; the goalkeeper saved from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was in alone. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund might have survived a further inspection if needed. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scottish goal and McKenna deflected effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a fight to maintain their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major blow to the manager, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the goal but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing extremely dangerously, a fact further emphasised as the defender turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive just wide. But they made it to the break unscathed. They were also robbed of a golden chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, receiving a yellow card, after the player capitalised on Danish carelessness.

Final Period Action

Højlund made Gordon into a sharp, low stop in a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to succeed, the remainder would feel like the decades since World Cup participation. Given the visitors only required a tie, the direction of traffic right from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the hosts. They were managing – to a point – in breaking up Denmark attacks but immediately giving the ball right back to those in red.

When the tying goal was scored, it came with the whiff of dispute attached.

The official initially noticed no infringement with the captain's challenge on the winger on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared the player dived into the ground. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the run of play, parity was the least the away side merited but the hosts had cause to be sore about the decision.

Late Heroics

The only thing exciting game lacked was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding McGinn earning another caution. Then the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. The Danish marking of an inswinging midfielder corner was disorganized, letting Shankland to finish. The substitute, introduced for his attacking prowess, showed exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how simple it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their advantage. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his path from close range from goal. This time the defense were overly generous.

The striker directed a header off target. The midfielder's curling shot just went past the upright. Enter the defender and a moment capable of deciding any match. The substitute added gloss: from the midfield, indeed.