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Scotland's national stadium has witnessed countless memorable events over its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Add this match to the list. Scotland's protracted drought has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose swerving shot from distance seemed to have secured victory in a high-scoring affair until the substitute delivered an even more stunning fourth.

Almost three decades of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have watched men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were obliterated as Denmark fell to defeat in injury time. Supporters in kilts wept. Denmark's participation in next summer’s jamboree hinges on qualifiers. The coach and a now giddy football nation can begin planning concrete arrangements.

PhD students could produce work on how on earth Scotland achieved this. They seemed down and out at times, just days before the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was almost as if someone, somewhere had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Night Begins

The evening had supposedly opened in tough fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. His replacement filled in. Any sense of setback was dispelled within three minutes.

It was among the most wondrous goals scored at Hampden in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the right. His floated delivery ought to have been challenging for McTominay to control. He was facing away from goal, to begin with. Rather, he launched himself into the sky and landed an overhead kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This renowned stadium exploded, not simply in acknowledgment of the first goal but the remarkable circumstances in which it occurred. Amazing.

Midfield Contest

McTominay was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. The home team's offense resonated in attacking too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was raised but Højlund might have been onside a VAR review were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland area and the defender deflected effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

The winger had panicked the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major blow to the manager, then, as the player overstretched when attempting to stop a cross. He left the scene on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very dangerously, a point highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder shot just off target. Yet they made it to the break without conceding. They were also robbed of a golden opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition slackness.

Second Half Action

Højlund made the keeper into a sharp, down stop within 90 seconds of the restart. If the Scots were going to do this, the remainder would feel like the decades since the tournament. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the flow of attacks right from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in stopping Danish offensives but immediately handing the possession back to those in red.

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

The official initially noticed no infringement with Robertson tackle on the winger on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen dived into the air. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the balance, parity was the least Denmark earned but Scotland had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Final Drama

The only thing exciting encounter lacked was a red card. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder bringing another caution. Then the coach made a change by bringing on the strikers one substitute and Che Adams.

This decision was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging midfielder corner was poor, letting the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, produced exactly that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had reason to be upset at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to extend their advantage. Within three minutes, Patrick Dorgu placed into the net after a teammate passed into his way 12 yards from the net. This time Scotland were overly careless.

The striker directed a shot wide. McGinn bending attempt just missed the upright. Enter the defender and a moment worthy to win any match. The substitute sealed it: from the midfield, indeed.