🔗 Share this article

Hampden Park has been the stage for countless historic events over its rich history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the record. The Scottish extended drought has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose bending effort from outside the box looked like it had sealed the win in a high-scoring affair until Kenny McLean delivered an even more spectacular clincher.

Nearly three decades of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the World Cup from a distance, were obliterated as Denmark fell to a loss in stoppage time. Adult fans in kilts wept. Denmark's qualification in the upcoming tournament hinges on playoff matches. Clarke and a now giddy football nation can begin planning concrete plans.

Academics could produce work on how on earth Scotland achieved this. They looked defeated at points, as recently as the weekend when falling to a loss in Athens. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The interventions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Match Unfolds

The evening had supposedly opened in challenging fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the warm-up. His replacement stepped in. All disruption was forgotten within three minutes.

This was one of the most amazing goals produced at Hampden in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the right. His floated pass should have been challenging for McTominay to control. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Rather, he catapulted himself into the air and planted an overhead kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic stadium erupted, not simply in appreciation of the opening goal but the special situation in which it arrived. Incredible.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak seemed dynamic. Scottish danger resonated in going on the offensive with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was in alone. The offside flag was up but Højlund could have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scotland area and the defender blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a contest to maintain their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a big loss to the manager, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a pass. He left the pitch on a stretcher after only the first half.

Højlund soon had the goal in the net but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing very on the edge, a point underscored as the defender deflected a midfielder shot just off target. But they reached the halftime still ahead. They were also denied of a great opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, down save within a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would feel like the 27 years since the tournament. Given Denmark only needed a draw, the flow of play right from the onset of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were succeeding – to a point – in stopping Denmark offensives but promptly giving the possession back to those in the away kit.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of cordite attached.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on the winger on the edge of the box. In fact, it seemed the player went down into the air. After being advised to look again by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side deserved but the hosts had cause to be sore about the decision.

Final Heroics

All this exciting match was missing was a red card. It came on the hour, Kristensen second foul of the night on a attacking McGinn earning another caution. Then the coach twisted by bringing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. The Danish defending of an curling midfielder corner was shambolic, letting Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be upset at how simple it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their advantage. In a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after Andreas Christensen passed into his path 12 yards from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly careless.

Adams flicked a header wide. The midfielder's curling attempt just missed the post. Then came the defender and a strike worthy to deciding the contest. The substitute added gloss: from the midfield, at that.