🔗 Share this article

Hampden Park has been the stage for numerous memorable events throughout its long history since 1903. Include this one to the annals. The Scottish long drought has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose swerving effort from distance looked like it had secured victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean delivered an more spectacular final goal.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the global tournament from a distance, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish chance in next summer’s event depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a now jubilant football nation can start making concrete arrangements.

Academics could produce papers on how on earth Scotland accomplished this. They seemed down and out at times, just days before Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was almost as if fate had decided the Scots had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The contributions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Match Kicks Off

The evening had supposedly opened in challenging fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to play alongside Scott McKenna in defense, was hurt in the warmup. Grant Hanley took his place. All disruption was banished in the opening moments.

It was one of the most wondrous finishes scored at Hampden in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. His arched cross was expected to be challenging for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Rather, McTominay propelled himself into the air and executed an overhead kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place exploded, not only in recognition of the opening goal but the special context in which it occurred. Wow.

Midfield Contest

McTominay was performing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed explosive. The home team's threat shone in pushing forward too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was up but he could have survived a VAR review were it required. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scotland area and the defender deflected well from another attacker, the home side were in a battle to hold their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to stop a cross. He departed the scene on a medical cart after only the opening period.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the net but was flagged for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, Scotland were playing far too recklessly, a point further emphasised as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just off target. Yet Scotland reached the break still ahead. They were even denied of a excellent chance of a additional goal, a Danish defender cleverly fouling McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition mistakes.

Second Half Action

Højlund forced the keeper into a smart, low stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, the remainder would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the flow of play from the onset of the second period felt ominous for the home team. They were succeeding – partially – in breaking up Danish attacks but immediately handing the possession back to those in red.

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

The official initially saw nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen flung himself into the air. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the spot. The striker drilled home. On the run of play, parity was the minimum Denmark earned but the hosts had reason to be angry about the call.

Late Heroics

The only thing exciting encounter lacked was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking McGinn bringing another caution. Now the coach made a change by introducing the strikers one substitute and another.

The move was to work out. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder corner was poor, letting Shankland to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. In three minutes, Patrick Dorgu placed into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his path inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too lenient.

The striker directed a header off target. The midfielder's bending shot just missed the upright. Enter Tierney and a strike worthy to win the game. The substitute sealed it: from the center circle, indeed.