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Scotland's national stadium has been the stage for many memorable moments over its long history since 1903. Include this game to the annals. The Scottish extended drought is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose curling strike from outside the box appeared to clinched the win in a five-goal thriller until Kenny McLean delivered an still more stunning fourth.

Nearly 27 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have seen the World Cup from afar, were obliterated as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Supporters in kilts wept. The Danish qualification in the upcoming jamboree hinges on playoff matches. The coach and a now giddy Scottish football community can begin planning definite arrangements.

PhD students could produce work on how on earth the team achieved this. They appeared down and out at moments, as recently as the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The interventions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Night Begins

The match had supposedly started in difficult circumstances for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to partner Scott McKenna in defense, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of setback was banished in three minutes.

This was among the most wondrous goals produced at the stadium in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the wing. His lofted delivery ought to have been challenging for McTominay to handle. He was with his back to goal, to begin with. Rather, he propelled himself into the sky and planted an overhead kick past the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic old place erupted, not just in appreciation of the early lead but the special context in which it occurred. Incredible.

Game Struggle

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger appeared electric. Scottish offense was evident in going on the offensive too ferociously; Craig Gordon denied from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The offside flag was raised but he may well have been onside a second check if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna deflected effectively from another attacker, the home side were in a battle to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the player overstretched when attempting to stop a cross. He departed the scene on a medical cart after only the first half.

The striker shortly had the goal in the goal but was called for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely dangerously, a fact further emphasised as Hanley turned a midfielder drive just off target. Yet they made it to the break unscathed. They were even denied of a golden opportunity of a second goal, a Danish defender smartly taking out McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made Gordon into a quick, low stop within 90 seconds of the restart. If the Scots were going to succeed, 45 minutes would feel like the decades since their last World Cup. Given the visitors only required a tie, the flow of traffic right from the onset of the half felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were managing – to a point – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly handing the possession right back to those in the away kit.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the hint of cordite involved.

The referee initially saw no foul with Robertson tackle on the winger on the angle of the box. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen dived into the air. After being instructed to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the overall play, parity was the minimum the away side earned but Scotland had cause to be sore about the circumstances.

Late Action

The only thing action-packed match lacked was a sending off. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder earning a second yellow card. Then the coach twisted by bringing on the strikers one substitute and another.

The move was to prove effective. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, letting the striker to finish. The substitute, brought on for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had cause to be angry at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to extend their lead. Within three minutes, Patrick Dorgu placed into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his path inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly careless.

Adams flicked a shot off target. McGinn bending attempt just went past the post. Enter Tierney and a goal fit to deciding any match. The substitute added gloss: from the center circle, at that.