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Hampden Park has witnessed many memorable events over its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Include this one to the annals. The Scottish extended absence has ended. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose bending strike from distance appeared to secured success in a high-scoring affair before the substitute executed an more stunning fourth.

Nearly 27 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have seen men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were wiped away as the Danish team fell to a loss in added time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish participation in next summer’s event depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a now ecstatic football nation can start making solid arrangements.

Academics could produce work on the manner in which the team pulled off this. They seemed defeated at points, as recently as the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was like destiny had decreed the Scots had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were incredible.

The Night Kicks Off

The match had reportedly opened in challenging circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of problem was banished within the first few minutes.

It was among the most wondrous goals delivered at the stadium in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. His lofted delivery ought to have been challenging for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the air and landed an overhead kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This renowned old place erupted, not only in recognition of the opening goal but the unique situation in which it came. Incredible.

Game Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak appeared electric. Scottish offense shone in pushing forward too ferociously; the goalkeeper denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but Højlund might have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scottish goal and the defender blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their lead.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a big loss to the manager, then, as the player strained when trying to block a cross. He departed the scene on a medical cart after just the first half.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the net but was flagged for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing far too on the edge, a point underscored as the defender deflected a midfielder shot just off target. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime still ahead. They were even denied of a excellent opportunity of a additional goal, a Danish defender smartly fouling the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the player took advantage of opposition mistakes.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund forced Gordon into a sharp, low save in the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, the remainder would be like the decades since the tournament. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the flow of play right from the onset of the half felt ominous for the home team. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in disrupting Denmark offensives but promptly handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the scent of dispute attached.

The referee initially saw no infringement with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen went down into the air. After being instructed to look again by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. The striker drilled home. On the overall play, the equalizer was the least the away side earned but the hosts had cause to be angry about the decision.

Late Action

The only thing action-packed game lacked was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking McGinn earning a second yellow card. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. Denmark's defending of an inswinging midfielder set piece was shambolic, allowing the striker to strike. The substitute, brought on for his attacking prowess, produced precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how simple it was.

Scotland had no time to extend their advantage. In three minutes, a Danish player slotted into the net after a teammate passed into his way from close range from goal. On this occasion Scotland were too careless.

Adams flicked a shot off target. McGinn curling shot just missed the upright. Enter the defender and a strike fit to win the contest. The substitute added gloss: from the center circle, indeed.