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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable moments over its rich history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. The Scottish long wait is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose curling strike from 22 yards looked like it had sealed victory by the odd goal in five before the substitute produced an still more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly three decades of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the World Cup from afar, were wiped away as the Danish team suffered a loss in added time. Supporters in traditional dress shed tears. Denmark's qualification in next summer’s jamboree rests on qualifiers. The coach and a now giddy Scottish football community can start making solid plans.

PhD students could develop papers on the manner in which Scotland accomplished this. They appeared defeated at times, no more recently than Saturday when falling to a loss in Athens. It was as though someone, somewhere had decided the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a place in the tournament. The contributions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Night Begins

The night had apparently opened in tough fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the pregame. His replacement stepped in. All disruption was banished in the first few minutes.

This was some of the most amazing goals scored at the stadium in modern history.

The winger maneuvered on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery ought to have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an scissor kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned stadium exploded, not just in acknowledgment of the first goal but the remarkable circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Struggle

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger appeared electric. Scottish offense resonated in attacking aggressively; the goalkeeper saved from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was raised but Højlund could have survived a VAR review if it had been necessary. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scotland goal and McKenna blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a fight to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his pace. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, at that point, as the player overstretched when attempting to stop a pass. He left the pitch on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was penalised for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were living far too on the edge, a fact underscored as Hanley turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot narrowly off target. But they reached the halftime unscathed. They were even denied of a golden chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition mistakes.

Final Period Excitement

The attacker forced the keeper into a quick, low stop within a minute and a half of the restart. If the Scots were going to qualify, 45 minutes would be like the decades since World Cup participation. Given the visitors only needed a tie, the direction of play right from the onset of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in breaking up Denmark attacks but promptly giving the ball right back to the players in red.

As the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of controversy attached.

The referee initially saw no foul with Robertson tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared the player flung himself into the ground. After being advised to look again by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. The striker blasted home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side merited but the hosts had reason to be sore about the circumstances.

Late Action

All this action-packed encounter lacked was a red card. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing a second yellow card. Now Clarke made a change by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to pay dividends. Denmark's marking of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was shambolic, allowing Shankland to score. The substitute, introduced for his predatory instinct, demonstrated precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be angry at how easy it was.

Scotland had no time to extend their advantage. In a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after a teammate passed into his path inside the box from the net. This time Scotland were too generous.

Adams flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's curling shot narrowly went past the upright. Then came Tierney and a strike capable of deciding the game. McLean sealed it: from the midfield, no less.