🔗 Share this article

Scotland's national stadium has hosted many historic events throughout its rich history since 1903. Add this match to the annals. Scotland's long drought is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose swerving effort from 22 yards looked like it had secured the win by the odd goal in five until Kenny McLean executed an more breathtaking final goal.

Almost 27 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have observed men’s World Cups from a distance, were wiped away as Denmark fell to a loss in stoppage time. Supporters in kilts cried. The Danish chance in next summer’s event depends on playoff matches. The coach and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can begin planning concrete arrangements.

Academics could write studies on how on earth Scotland pulled off this. They looked down and out at times, just days before the weekend when falling to defeat in Greece. It was like someone, somewhere had decreed the Scots had waited long enough for a World Cup return. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had supposedly opened in tough fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of problem was forgotten within the opening moments.

It was among the most spectacular finishes produced at the stadium in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. His lofted pass should have been difficult for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from the net, to begin with. Instead, McTominay propelled himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. This famous venue exploded, not just in appreciation of the first goal but the unique situation in which it occurred. Amazing.

Midfield Contest

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a man possessed. The young winger looked dynamic. Scottish offense resonated in attacking with great intensity; Craig Gordon saved from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was up but he might have survived a VAR review were it required. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a battle to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danes with his quickness. It felt a significant blow to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to stop a cross. He left the field on a stretcher after only the opening period.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the net but was flagged for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were living extremely recklessly, a fact further emphasised as Hanley turned a midfielder drive just off target. But Scotland reached the break without conceding. They were even denied of a golden opportunity of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish slackness.

Final Period Action

Højlund made the keeper into a quick, down stop within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to qualify, the half would be like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only required a draw, the direction of play right from the onset of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – somewhat – in stopping Denmark attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

As the tying goal arrived, it came with the whiff of controversy associated.

The referee originally saw no foul with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it seemed the player dived into the air. After being advised to look again by the VAR, the referee awarded the spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark earned but the hosts had cause to be angry about the circumstances.

Late Action

All this action-packed encounter was missing was a sending off. It came on the hour, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing a second caution. Then the coach twisted by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to work out. Denmark's defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, allowing Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, demonstrated exactly that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

The home team had no time to extend their lead. Within a short time, a Danish player slotted into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his way from close range from the net. On this occasion the defense were overly lenient.

The striker flicked a shot wide. McGinn curling attempt narrowly went past the post. Enter the defender and a goal fit to win any match. McLean sealed it: from the center circle, no less.