🔗 Share this article

Hampden Park has hosted many unforgettable events over its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the record. Scotland's long drought has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling shot from distance seemed to have sealed the win in a five-goal thriller before the substitute executed an even more spectacular fourth.

Nearly 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the World Cup from a distance, were wiped away as Denmark suffered defeat in injury time. Supporters in traditional dress cried. The Danish chance in next summer’s tournament depends on qualifiers. Clarke and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can start making solid plans.

Researchers could write studies on the manner in which the team accomplished this. They seemed down and out at times, no more recently than the weekend when suffering defeat in Greece. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Unfolds

The night had reportedly started in tough fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to partner the centre-back in the back line, was hurt in the pregame. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of problem was banished in the opening moments.

It was among the most amazing strikes produced at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the wing. His lofted delivery ought to have been challenging for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Rather, McTominay propelled himself into the sky and landed an overhead kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous old place exploded, not just in recognition of the early lead but the remarkable context in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. The young winger appeared electric. The home team's threat shone in pushing forward aggressively; the goalkeeper denied from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was in alone. The offside flag was raised but he may well have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna blocked well from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a big blow to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to stop a cross. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very recklessly, a point underscored as Hanley turned a midfielder drive just off target. But they made it to the halftime without conceding. They were even denied of a excellent chance of a second goal, a Danish defender smartly fouling the midfielder, earning a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish mistakes.

Second Half Excitement

The attacker forced the keeper into a quick, low stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to qualify, the half would feel like the long wait since World Cup participation. Considering Denmark only needed a tie, the direction of attacks right from the onset of the second period felt ominous for the home team. Scotland were managing – partially – in stopping Denmark attacks but immediately handing the possession right back to the players in red.

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

The official originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen flung himself into the ground. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. Højlund smashed home. On the overall play, parity was the least Denmark merited but the hosts had cause to be sore about the circumstances.

Final Heroics

The only thing action-packed encounter was missing was a red card. It arrived on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing a second yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had reason to be furious at how easy it was.

Scotland had no time to extend their advantage. Within a short time, a Danish player slotted home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way from close range from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too lenient.

The striker flicked a header off target. The midfielder's curling shot just went past the upright. Then came the defender and a moment worthy to deciding any match. The substitute added gloss: from the center circle, at that.