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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless memorable moments throughout its long history since 1903. Remember this match to the annals. Scotland's protracted absence has ended. The manager, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose curling strike from 22 yards looked like it had clinched the win in a five-goal thriller before the substitute executed an even more breathtaking fourth.

Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered defeat in added time. Adult fans in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish qualification in the next jamboree depends on March playoffs. The coach and a suddenly jubilant country can begin planning definite plans.

Researchers could produce work on how exactly the team accomplished this. They seemed finished at moments, no more recently than Saturday when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though someone, somewhere had decreed the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The interventions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Game Unfolds

The match had apparently started in tough fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been due to partner the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the pregame. His replacement filled in. All disruption was dispelled within the first few minutes.

It was some of the most spectacular strikes scored at Hampden in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak maneuvered on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s floated cross ought to have been difficult for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, he catapulted himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned venue exploded, not simply in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the special circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Contest

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak seemed explosive. The home team's threat was evident in going on the offensive with great intensity; the goalkeeper denied from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was in alone. The offside flag was raised but he could have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scotland area and the defender deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a fight to hold their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his speed. It felt a big setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a stretcher after just 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the goal in the net but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were living very dangerously, a point further emphasised as Hanley deflected a midfielder shot narrowly wide. Yet they made it to the break without conceding. They were even robbed of a golden opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly fouling the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish carelessness.

Final Period Excitement

Højlund forced Gordon into a quick, down save within 90 seconds of the restart. If the Scots were going to succeed, 45 minutes would be like the 27 years since the tournament. Considering the visitors only needed a draw, the direction of attacks from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – partially – in breaking up Danish attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to those in red.

As the tying goal was scored, it came with the whiff of cordite attached.

The official originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's tackle on the winger on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen dived into the ground. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the penalty spot. The striker blasted into the net. On the overall play, parity was the minimum Denmark merited but Scotland had cause to be sore about the call.

Final Heroics

All this thrilling game lacked was a red card. It arrived on the hour, the defender's second foul of the night on a attacking McGinn bringing a second yellow card. Now the coach twisted by introducing the forwards one substitute and Che Adams.

This decision was to work out. The Danish defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to strike. The substitute, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had reason to be angry at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to extend their lead. Within three minutes, a Danish player placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way from close range from the net. This time the defense were overly careless.

Adams directed a header off target. McGinn curling attempt narrowly went past the post. Then came the defender and a moment fit to win the contest. McLean added gloss: from the midfield, indeed.