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Hampden Park has witnessed many memorable moments throughout its long history since 1903. Remember this one to the list. Scotland's extended drought has ended. The manager, the captain, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling strike from distance looked like it had secured victory in a high-scoring affair until the substitute executed an still more breathtaking final goal.

Nearly 27 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have watched men’s World Cups from a distance, were erased as Denmark suffered defeat in added time. Adult fans in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish chance in the upcoming event hinges on playoff matches. The coach and a now giddy football nation can begin planning solid arrangements.

Researchers could produce studies on how exactly Scotland accomplished this. They seemed finished at moments, as recently as the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though fate had decreed the Scots had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Begins

The match had reportedly started in difficult circumstances for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of setback was banished within three minutes.

It was among the most wondrous goals produced at Hampden in modern history.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right flank. His floated cross was expected to be challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Instead, he propelled himself into the air and executed an scissor kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous old place exploded, not simply in recognition of the first goal but the special context in which it occurred. Wow.

Game Battle

McTominay was playing like a player inspired. The young winger seemed electric. The home team's danger shone in attacking aggressively; Craig Gordon denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The offside flag was up but Højlund may well have survived a second check were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scotland area and McKenna blocked well from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danes with his quickness. It felt a big loss to Clarke, then, as the player strained when trying to stop a pass. He departed the pitch on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the goal but was called for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were living far too recklessly, a fact further emphasised as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just off target. Yet they reached the halftime unscathed. They were also robbed of a excellent opportunity of a second goal, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Final Period Action

The attacker forced the keeper into a quick, down stop within the opening moments of the restart. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would be like the long wait since the tournament. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the flow of traffic from the start of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were succeeding – partially – in breaking up Danish offensives but immediately giving the possession right back to those in red.

When the equaliser came, it came with the hint of cordite involved.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with Robertson tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared the player flung himself into the air. After being instructed to check by the VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker blasted home. On the overall play, parity was the least Denmark earned but Scotland had reason to be angry about the call.

Late Action

The only thing exciting game lacked was a dismissal. It came on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder earning another yellow card. Then the coach made a change by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to prove effective. Denmark's marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing Shankland to strike. The substitute, brought on for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had reason to be upset at how simple it was.

The home team had little time to build on their advantage. Within moments, a Danish player slotted into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his path inside the box from goal. On this occasion Scotland were overly lenient.

The striker directed a shot wide. The midfielder's bending shot narrowly missed the upright. Then came Tierney and a goal fit to deciding any match. McLean sealed it: from the halfway line, at that.