🔗 Share this article

Hampden Park has witnessed many unforgettable moments over its rich history since 1903. Remember this one to the annals. The Scottish long wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose curling effort from outside the box seemed to have clinched victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean delivered an even more stunning clincher.

Almost 27 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the global tournament from the sidelines, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered defeat in stoppage time. Supporters in kilts shed tears. The Danish chance in the next tournament rests on qualifiers. Clarke and a now giddy country can start making concrete plans.

PhD students could write work on how exactly the team achieved this. They looked finished at moments, as recently as Saturday when suffering defeat in Athens. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a place in the tournament. The contributions of Tierney and McLean were incredible.

The Night Unfolds

The match had apparently opened in challenging fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been set to play alongside Scott McKenna in defense, was injured in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of setback was forgotten in three minutes.

This was one of the most amazing strikes scored at the stadium in living memory.

The winger maneuvered on the wing. His lofted cross should have been challenging for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from goal, to begin with. Rather, he catapulted himself into the sky and planted an scissor kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This renowned old place erupted, not only in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the remarkable circumstances in which it occurred. Wow.

Game Battle

McTominay was performing like a driven individual. The young winger looked explosive. Scottish offense resonated in pushing forward with great intensity; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The offside flag was up but Højlund might have been onside a VAR review were it required. As a Danish player flashed a cross across the Scottish goal and the defender deflected effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to hold their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his speed. It felt a significant loss to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to block a cross. He departed the field on a stretcher after only the opening period.

Højlund soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing extremely recklessly, a point highlighted as the defender turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just off target. Yet they made it to the break without conceding. They were also robbed of a excellent chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, earning a yellow card, after the player took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Final Period Excitement

Højlund forced Gordon into a smart, down stop in a minute and a half of the restart. If the Scots were going to do this, the remainder would feel like the 27 years since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the direction of traffic from the start of the half felt ominous for the hosts. They were managing – to a point – in stopping Danish attacks but immediately handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

As the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of dispute attached.

The referee originally saw no infringement with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it seemed the player went down into the air. After being instructed to review by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the spot. The striker smashed into the net. On the overall play, parity was the minimum the away side earned but the hosts had cause to be upset about the call.

Final Drama

The only thing action-packed encounter lacked was a red card. It came on the hour, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing a second caution. Then Clarke made a change by bringing on the strikers one substitute and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, allowing the striker to score. The substitute, introduced for his predatory instinct, showed precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be angry at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had no time to extend their lead. Within moments, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after a teammate passed into his path from close range from goal. This time the defense were overly careless.

Adams directed a shot wide. The midfielder's curling shot just went past the upright. Enter the defender and a moment fit to win the contest. McLean sealed it: from the midfield, indeed.