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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless unforgettable occasions over its rich history since 1903. Include this one to the record. The Scottish protracted drought has ended. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose bending effort from distance looked like it had secured victory by the odd goal in five until the substitute executed an more spectacular fourth.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen men’s World Cups from afar, were wiped away as the Danish team fell to a loss in injury time. Grown men in traditional dress cried. Denmark's participation in next summer’s jamboree hinges on qualifiers. Clarke and a suddenly ecstatic football nation can begin planning concrete arrangements.

PhD students could develop studies on how on earth Scotland accomplished this. They appeared defeated at points, just days before the weekend when falling to a loss in Greece. It was as though someone, somewhere had decreed the Scots had waited long enough for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Begins

The match had apparently opened in tough fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside Scott McKenna in defense, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley took his place. All setback was dispelled in the first few minutes.

It was one of the most spectacular strikes produced at the stadium in living memory.

The winger maneuvered on the wing. His arched delivery should have been challenging for the midfielder to handle. He was facing away from the net, initially. Rather, he launched himself into the air and planted an scissor kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic old place roared, not only in recognition of the first goal but the unique circumstances in which it came. Incredible.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak looked electric. The home team's danger was evident in pushing forward aggressively; Craig Gordon denied from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund could have been onside a further inspection were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to block a pass. He departed the pitch on a stretcher after just 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the ball in the net but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were living very dangerously, a point underscored as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly off target. Yet Scotland reached the halftime unscathed. They were even denied of a great chance of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the player capitalised on Danish slackness.

Final Period Action

Højlund made Gordon into a sharp, low save within a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would be like the long wait since the tournament. Given the visitors only required a draw, the direction of traffic from the onset of the half felt threatening for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in stopping Danish offensives but immediately handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

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

The official initially saw nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it seemed the player went down into the air. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the penalty spot. The striker blasted home. On the run of play, parity was the least Denmark deserved but the hosts had cause to be upset about the call.

Final Drama

All this exciting encounter was missing was a sending off. It came on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder earning another caution. Then the coach twisted by introducing the forwards one substitute and another.

This decision was to prove effective. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was disorganized, letting the striker to finish. The substitute, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, showed precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be furious at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to extend their advantage. In three minutes, a Danish player slotted into the net after a teammate laid into his path 12 yards from goal. This time the defense were too lenient.

Adams directed a header wide. McGinn curling attempt narrowly missed the upright. Enter Tierney and a strike fit to win any match. McLean provided the finish: from the center circle, at that.