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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable occasions throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the record. The Scottish long drought has ended. The manager, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too Kieran Tierney, whose bending strike from distance appeared to sealed success in a five-goal thriller before Kenny McLean executed an even more breathtaking clincher.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have observed the World Cup from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team fell to defeat in injury time. Adult fans in traditional dress cried. The Danish chance in the upcoming event depends on qualifiers. Clarke and a suddenly ecstatic Scottish football community can begin planning concrete plans.

Researchers could write papers on how exactly Scotland achieved this. They looked finished at times, no more recently than Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was as though destiny had decided the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were remarkable.

The Night Kicks Off

The night had reportedly opened in tough circumstances for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley filled in. All problem was dispelled in the first few minutes.

It was one of the most amazing strikes delivered at the stadium in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s arched pass was expected to be difficult for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to goal, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and planted an scissor kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium erupted, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the remarkable situation in which it arrived. Incredible.

Game Battle

McTominay was playing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak looked explosive. The home team's threat was evident in attacking too ferociously; Craig Gordon denied from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was through on goal. The assistant's flag was raised but he could have survived a VAR review if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scottish area and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to hold their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his speed. It felt a big setback to the manager, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to stop a cross. He left the scene on a stretcher after only 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the ball in the net but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were living far too dangerously, a fact highlighted as the defender turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot narrowly off target. Yet they made it to the halftime still ahead. They were even denied of a golden chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly taking out the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition slackness.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund forced Gordon into a smart, low save within 90 seconds of the restart. If Scotland were going to qualify, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Given the visitors only needed a tie, the flow of play right from the start of the second period felt ominous for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – partially – in disrupting Danish offensives but immediately handing the possession right back to the players in red.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of controversy attached.

The official initially noticed no infringement with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen went down into the ground. After being instructed to review by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the run of play, parity was the least Denmark earned but Scotland had cause to be sore about the call.

Late Action

All this thrilling game was missing was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a marauding McGinn earning another caution. Now the coach twisted by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to work out. Denmark's marking of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, letting the striker to finish. The substitute, introduced for his predatory instinct, demonstrated precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be upset at how simple it was.

The home team had little time to extend their lead. Within three minutes, a Danish player slotted home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path inside the box from goal. This time the defense were overly generous.

Adams directed a header wide. The midfielder's curling shot just went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a moment worthy to win the contest. The substitute provided the finish: from the center circle, at that.