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Hampden Park has hosted many memorable occasions throughout its long history since 1903. Remember this game to the record. Scotland's protracted absence has ended. The manager, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from distance seemed to have clinched success in a high-scoring affair until the substitute produced an more stunning fourth.

Nearly 27 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have observed men’s World Cups from a distance, were wiped away as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. Denmark's qualification in next summer’s jamboree rests on qualifiers. The coach and a now giddy country can begin planning concrete plans.

PhD students could develop work on how exactly the team accomplished this. They looked defeated at points, no more recently than Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was like destiny had decreed the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of the defender and the midfielder were remarkable.

The Match Unfolds

The evening had supposedly started in tough fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to partner Scott McKenna in the back line, was injured in the pregame. His replacement filled in. All disruption was forgotten in three minutes.

It was one of the most spectacular goals delivered at the stadium in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery was expected to be tricky for McTominay to control. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic old place roared, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the special circumstances in which it occurred. Incredible.

Midfield Contest

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak seemed electric. The home team's offense was evident in pushing forward too ferociously; the goalkeeper saved from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was through on goal. The offside flag was raised but he might have survived a second check were it required. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scotland area and the defender deflected effectively from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danish team with his pace. It felt a big blow to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when trying to stop a pass. He departed the pitch on a medical cart after just the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing far too on the edge, a fact highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder shot just wide. Yet they made it to the break still ahead. They were even denied of a excellent opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish slackness.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund made Gordon into a quick, low save within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to do this, the half would be like the long wait since the tournament. Considering Denmark only required a tie, the flow of play right from the onset of the second period felt ominous for the home team. They were managing – partially – in disrupting Danish attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to the players in red.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the whiff of controversy attached.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's tackle on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to check by the VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker blasted into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side earned but Scotland had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Final Heroics

All this action-packed game lacked was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the match on a marauding midfielder earning a second caution. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. The Danish marking of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, allowing the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, produced exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how straightforward it was.

The home team had little time to extend their advantage. In a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after a teammate passed into his path from close range from goal. This time Scotland were too careless.

The striker flicked a shot wide. McGinn bending attempt narrowly missed the upright. Then came Tierney and a moment capable of win the contest. McLean sealed it: from the center circle, no less.