🔗 Share this article

Hampden Park has been the stage for many unforgettable events throughout its rich history since 1903. Add this game to the annals. The Scottish long wait has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose bending effort from 22 yards looked like it had secured victory by the odd goal in five until the substitute executed an even more stunning clincher.

Almost three decades of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the World Cup from a distance, were erased as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Grown men in traditional dress wept. The Danish chance in next summer’s event hinges on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly ecstatic Scottish football community can begin planning solid plans.

PhD students could produce work on the manner in which Scotland pulled off this. They looked defeated at points, as recently as Saturday when falling to a loss in Greece. It was almost as if fate had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The contributions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Match Kicks Off

The match had reportedly started in challenging fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been due to partner the centre-back in defense, was hurt in the warmup. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of problem was banished within the opening moments.

This was among the most wondrous finishes delivered at Hampden in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery was expected to be challenging for the midfielder to control. He was facing away from the net, to begin with. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic stadium erupted, not just in appreciation of the first goal but the special context in which it arrived. Incredible.

Game Contest

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a player inspired. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. Scottish offense resonated in going on the offensive with great intensity; Craig Gordon saved from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was through on goal. The assistant's flag was up but he could have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scotland area and the defender blocked effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danes with his speed. It felt a significant blow to the manager, then, as the player overstretched when trying to block a cross. He left the scene on a medical cart after just the first half.

Højlund soon had the ball in the goal but was called for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were living extremely dangerously, a fact highlighted as Hanley deflected a midfielder drive narrowly off target. Yet Scotland reached the halftime unscathed. They were also robbed of a excellent opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the player capitalised on Danish slackness.

Final Period Drama

Højlund made the keeper into a sharp, down save in 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would be like the long wait since the tournament. Considering the visitors only required a tie, the flow of traffic from the start of the half felt threatening for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in breaking up Danish offensives but immediately giving the possession back to those in red.

When the tying goal arrived, it came with the whiff of controversy involved.

The official originally noticed nothing wrong with Robertson tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen dived into the ground. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least the away side merited but Scotland had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Final Drama

The only thing action-packed match was missing was a red card. It came on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the match on a attacking midfielder earning a second yellow card. Then the coach made a change by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, allowing Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be upset at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their advantage. In three minutes, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his path 12 yards from the net. On this occasion the defense were too careless.

The striker flicked a header off target. The midfielder's bending attempt just went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a moment fit to win the game. McLean provided the finish: from the midfield, at that.