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Hampden Park has hosted countless historic moments over its long history since 1903. Remember this one to the record. The Scottish long absence is over. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too Kieran Tierney, whose swerving strike from distance appeared to secured the win by the odd goal in five until Kenny McLean delivered an even more spectacular clincher.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from a distance, were wiped away as the Danish team fell to defeat in stoppage time. Grown men in kilts shed tears. Denmark's qualification in the next tournament hinges on playoff matches. Clarke and a suddenly jubilant country can start making definite arrangements.

Researchers could write papers on the manner in which Scotland accomplished this. They seemed down and out at moments, no more recently than the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though destiny had decided the Scots had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The actions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Begins

The evening had supposedly opened in challenging circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in defense, was hurt in the warm-up. His replacement filled in. Any sense of setback was dispelled in the opening moments.

It was some of the most spectacular goals scored at Hampden in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right. His lofted cross was expected to be challenging for the midfielder to control. He was facing away from the net, to begin with. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous venue erupted, not just in appreciation of the opening goal but the special circumstances in which it came. Amazing.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. The young winger looked dynamic. Scottish danger resonated in pushing forward aggressively; the goalkeeper denied from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was through on goal. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund could have been onside a second check if needed. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scottish goal and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a significant setback to the manager, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a pass. He left the pitch on a stretcher after only the opening period.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was called 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 midfielder drive narrowly off target. Yet they reached the halftime still ahead. They were even denied of a golden chance of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly fouling McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition slackness.

Second Half Drama

Højlund made the keeper into a smart, low save within the opening moments of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, the half would seem like the long wait since the tournament. Given Denmark only required a tie, the flow of play from the start of the half felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were managing – to a point – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly giving the ball back to the players in the away kit.

As the tying goal came, it came with the hint of cordite attached.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on the winger on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared the player went down into the ground. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the least Denmark deserved but Scotland had reason to be upset about the call.

Final Heroics

The only thing action-packed match lacked was a sending off. It came on the hour, the defender's another infraction of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing another caution. Then the coach twisted by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, letting the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his attacking prowess, demonstrated exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to build on their advantage. In three minutes, Patrick Dorgu placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way from close range from goal. On this occasion Scotland were too generous.

The striker flicked a shot wide. The midfielder's bending attempt just went past the upright. Enter the defender and a moment fit to win the contest. McLean added gloss: from the halfway line, no less.