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Hampden Park has been the stage for numerous memorable occasions over its rich history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. Scotland's protracted wait has concluded. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from distance looked like it had secured the win in a high-scoring affair before Kenny McLean executed an even more stunning fourth.

Almost three decades of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have watched men’s World Cups from a distance, were wiped away as the Danish team fell to defeat in stoppage time. Adult fans in kilts shed tears. Denmark's participation in next summer’s tournament rests on March playoffs. The coach and a suddenly ecstatic country can start making solid arrangements.

PhD students could produce work on the manner in which the team accomplished this. They seemed down and out at points, as recently as Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was like destiny had decreed the Scots had endured sufficient for a place in the tournament. The contributions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Night Begins

The night had apparently started in tough circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside Scott McKenna in central defence, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley stepped in. Any sense of setback was dispelled in three minutes.

It was among the most wondrous goals delivered at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the wing. His arched delivery ought to have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Instead, McTominay propelled himself into the sky and planted an bicycle kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous venue roared, not just in appreciation of the early lead but the special context in which it came. Amazing.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a player inspired. The young winger appeared electric. Scottish danger was evident in pushing forward aggressively; the goalkeeper denied from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was up but he may well have survived a further inspection if needed. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his speed. It felt a big blow to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to stop a pass. He departed the field on a stretcher after just the first half.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was called for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing far too dangerously, a point underscored as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot narrowly off target. But they reached the halftime without conceding. They were even robbed of a excellent opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender cleverly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish mistakes.

Second Half Drama

Højlund made the keeper into a quick, low stop within the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, the remainder would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the direction of play from the start of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were managing – to a point – in breaking up Denmark attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

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

The official originally saw no infringement with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen went down into the ground. After being instructed to check by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. The striker smashed into the net. On the run of play, parity was the least Denmark earned but Scotland had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Late Action

All this action-packed encounter lacked was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another caution. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. The Danish defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, allowing the striker to finish. The substitute, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, produced precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be upset at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu slotted home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly lenient.

Adams flicked a header wide. McGinn bending shot just missed the upright. Enter the defender and a moment fit to win the contest. The substitute added gloss: from the halfway line, no less.