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Scotland's national stadium has witnessed many memorable moments over its illustrious history since 1903. Add this game to the list. The Scottish long wait is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from 22 yards looked like it had clinched the win in a five-goal thriller until the substitute executed an still more breathtaking clincher.

Nearly 30 years of heartache, during which Scotland have watched the World Cup from a distance, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered a loss in injury time. Adult fans in kilts cried. Denmark's chance in the upcoming tournament hinges on qualifiers. The coach and a suddenly giddy country can start making definite plans.

PhD students could produce studies on the manner in which the team accomplished this. They seemed down and out at moments, no more recently than Saturday when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though destiny had predetermined the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of Tierney and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Begins

The evening had apparently started in difficult circumstances for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to partner the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley stepped in. All setback was banished within the first few minutes.

This was one of the most amazing goals produced at Hampden in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery should have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Instead, he catapulted himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned venue roared, not only in appreciation of the opening goal but the remarkable situation in which it occurred. Wow.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak appeared electric. The home team's offense shone in attacking aggressively; the goalkeeper saved from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was in alone. The assistant's flag was raised but he may well have survived a VAR review if needed. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna deflected effectively from another attacker, the home side were in a battle to maintain their lead.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a significant setback to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to stop a pass. He left the field on a stretcher after only 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the ball in the goal but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were living far too recklessly, a point highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder shot narrowly off target. Yet they made it to the break still ahead. They were even robbed of a excellent opportunity of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player capitalised on Danish carelessness.

Second Half Action

Højlund forced Gordon into a sharp, low stop within the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would seem like the long wait since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only needed a draw, the direction of attacks right from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in breaking up Denmark attacks but promptly handing the ball back to those in red.

When the equaliser was scored, it came with the whiff of controversy associated.

The official originally saw nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen flung himself into the ground. After being instructed to review by the VAR, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Højlund drilled home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least the away side deserved but Scotland had reason to be upset about the decision.

Late Heroics

The only thing exciting match lacked was a sending off. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the match on a attacking midfielder earning another caution. Now Clarke made a change by bringing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an inswinging midfielder set piece was shambolic, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, demonstrated exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be furious at how straightforward it was.

The home team had little time to extend their advantage. Within three minutes, a Danish player placed into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his path from close range from the net. On this occasion the defense were too careless.

Adams flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's curling attempt narrowly missed the post. Enter Tierney and a strike fit to win the game. The substitute sealed it: from the midfield, no less.