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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless memorable events throughout its long history since 1903. Add this match to the annals. The Scottish long wait is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose swerving strike from distance looked like it had sealed the win by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an more breathtaking clincher.

Nearly 30 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the global tournament from the sidelines, were erased as Denmark suffered defeat in added time. Adult fans in traditional dress wept. The Danish participation in the upcoming jamboree hinges on playoff matches. Clarke and a suddenly jubilant country can start making solid arrangements.

Researchers could produce work on how exactly Scotland achieved this. They looked down and out at moments, just days before Saturday when suffering defeat in Greece. It was like someone, somewhere had decreed the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The actions of Tierney and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had reportedly started in tough fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in the back line, was hurt in the pregame. Grant Hanley stepped in. Any sense of problem was dispelled in three minutes.

This was among the most amazing strikes delivered at the stadium in living memory.

The winger maneuvered on the right. His lofted cross ought to have been challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, he launched himself into the sky and executed an scissor kick past the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned stadium roared, not simply in recognition of the first goal but the special context in which it came. Wow.

Game Battle

McTominay was playing like a driven individual. The young winger looked electric. The home team's threat shone in pushing forward too ferociously; Craig Gordon saved from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but he may well have survived a further inspection if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scottish goal and McKenna blocked well from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a major blow to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a cross. He left the scene on a stretcher after just the opening period.

The striker shortly had the ball in the net but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely recklessly, a point highlighted as Hanley turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just off target. But they reached the halftime still ahead. They were also denied of a golden chance of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player took advantage of Danish slackness.

Final Period Excitement

Højlund forced the keeper into a sharp, down stop within the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only needed a draw, the direction of play from the onset of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were managing – to a point – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly giving the ball right back to those in red.

As the equaliser arrived, it came with the scent of cordite involved.

The referee initially saw no foul with the captain's tackle on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it seemed the player dived into the ground. After being advised to check by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund drilled into the net. On the overall play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark earned but the hosts had cause to be sore about the circumstances.

Late Action

The only thing thrilling encounter was missing was a sending off. It arrived on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking McGinn bringing a second yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be upset at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their lead. Within three minutes, a Danish player stroked into the net after a teammate laid into his way 12 yards from goal. This time the defense were too careless.

The striker flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's curling shot just missed the upright. Then came Tierney and a goal fit to win the game. The substitute added gloss: from the halfway line, indeed.