🔗 Share this article

Scotland's national stadium has witnessed many memorable occasions throughout its long history dating back to 1903. Remember this match to the record. Scotland's extended absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them Kieran Tierney, whose bending shot from 22 yards seemed to have sealed the win in a five-goal thriller before the substitute delivered an still more spectacular clincher.

Nearly 30 years of frustration, during which Scotland have seen the World Cup from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team fell to a loss in added time. Adult fans in kilts cried. The Danish participation in the upcoming event rests on playoff matches. Clarke and a now ecstatic Scottish football community can prepare concrete plans.

Academics could develop work on how on earth the team achieved this. They looked down and out at moments, just days before Saturday when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though fate had decreed the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a World Cup return. The actions of the defender and McLean were incredible.

The Night Begins

The match had reportedly started in difficult fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to partner Scott McKenna in the back line, was hurt in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. Any sense of problem was banished within the opening moments.

This was among the most spectacular goals delivered at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s arched cross should have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to goal, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the air and planted an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous stadium exploded, not simply in appreciation of the opening goal but the special circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Midfield Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak looked dynamic. The home team's offense resonated in pushing forward aggressively; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The offside flag was up but Højlund may well have been onside a further inspection were it required. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender blocked effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to hold their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danes with his speed. It felt a big setback to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when attempting to block a pass. He left the field on a stretcher after only the first half.

Højlund soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a push on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing far too recklessly, a point further emphasised as the defender deflected a midfielder shot narrowly wide. Yet they reached the break still ahead. They were even denied of a golden opportunity of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out McGinn, receiving a yellow card, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish slackness.

Final Period Drama

Højlund forced Gordon into a sharp, low save within 90 seconds of the second half. If the Scots were going to qualify, the half would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Given Denmark only needed a tie, the direction of attacks from the onset of the half felt threatening for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

As the tying goal came, it came with the whiff of dispute involved.

The referee initially saw nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen dived into the ground. After being advised to check by the video assistant referee, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker smashed into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side merited but Scotland had cause to be sore about the call.

Late Action

All this exciting encounter lacked was a sending off. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder bringing a second caution. Then the coach twisted by bringing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, letting the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had cause to be furious at how simple it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. Within three minutes, a Danish player slotted into the net after a teammate passed into his way from close range from goal. On this occasion the defense were overly careless.

Adams flicked a header wide. McGinn curling attempt narrowly went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a goal fit to deciding the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the center circle, no less.