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Hampden Park has hosted countless memorable events over its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Remember this match to the annals. Scotland's long absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. Along with them the defender, whose swerving shot from distance seemed to have secured success in a high-scoring affair before the substitute delivered an still more stunning fourth.

Nearly 27 years of heartache, during which Scotland have observed the World Cup from the sidelines, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered a loss in injury time. Grown men in kilts cried. Denmark's participation in the next tournament hinges on March playoffs. Clarke and a now giddy country can prepare definite arrangements.

Academics could produce papers on the manner in which the team achieved this. They seemed finished at points, as recently as Saturday when falling to a loss in Athens. It was as though someone, somewhere had decreed the Scots had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of the defender and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Begins

The match had supposedly opened in challenging circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been set to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley stepped in. All setback was dispelled in the first few minutes.

This was among the most amazing finishes produced at Hampden in living memory.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right flank. His arched pass was expected to be difficult for the midfielder to control. He was with his back to goal, for starters. Rather, McTominay launched himself into the sky and executed an scissor kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic venue roared, not simply in appreciation of the early lead but the unique circumstances in which it came. Amazing.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak appeared dynamic. Scottish danger shone in attacking with great intensity; Craig Gordon denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was through on goal. The assistant's flag was up but he could have survived a further inspection if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland area and the defender deflected effectively from another attacker, the home side were in a fight to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danes with his speed. It felt a big loss to the manager, at that point, as the player overstretched when trying to stop a pass. He left the pitch on a stretcher after only 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the goal in the net but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, Scotland were playing far too on the edge, a fact highlighted as the defender turned a midfielder drive just wide. Yet Scotland made it to the halftime still ahead. They were also robbed of a great opportunity of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the player capitalised on Danish carelessness.

Final Period Excitement

The attacker made the keeper into a quick, down stop within the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, the half would feel like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering Denmark only needed a draw, the flow of play right from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the hosts. They were managing – to a point – in stopping Danish offensives but promptly giving the ball back to those in red.

When the equaliser was scored, it came with the whiff of controversy associated.

The referee originally saw no infringement with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared Isaksen dived into the air. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. The striker blasted home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least the away side earned but the hosts had reason to be sore about the circumstances.

Late Drama

All this exciting encounter was missing was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder bringing another yellow card. Then the coach made a change by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to work out. Denmark's marking of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, allowing Shankland to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, showed exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be furious at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had no time to extend their advantage. In a short time, a Danish player placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his path 12 yards from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too generous.

The striker directed a shot off target. The midfielder's bending shot narrowly went past the upright. Then came Tierney and a moment capable of deciding any match. McLean sealed it: from the midfield, no less.