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Scotland's national stadium has been the stage for many historic moments over its long history dating back to 1903. Remember this one to the list. Scotland's protracted drought is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose swerving strike from distance appeared to secured the win in a high-scoring affair until the substitute delivered an even more breathtaking clincher.

Almost three decades of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the World Cup from afar, were obliterated as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Grown men in traditional dress cried. The Danish qualification in next summer’s jamboree depends on qualifiers. The coach and a now ecstatic Scottish football community can begin planning definite plans.

PhD students could write work on how on earth the team pulled off this. They seemed finished at points, as recently as Saturday when suffering a loss in Greece. It was like fate had predetermined the Scots had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Kicks Off

The night had reportedly started in challenging fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. Grant Hanley stepped in. Any sense of disruption was forgotten within three minutes.

This was among the most spectacular strikes produced at the stadium in modern history.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted cross ought to have been difficult for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from the net, initially. Rather, McTominay catapulted himself into the air and landed an overhead kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium exploded, not simply in appreciation of the first goal but the unique situation in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Struggle

McTominay was playing like a driven individual. The young winger seemed explosive. The home team's offense was evident in pushing forward with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was through on goal. The offside flag was up but he might have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scotland goal and the defender deflected effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a fight to hold their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a major blow to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to block a pass. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

The striker shortly had the goal in the goal but was penalised for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, Scotland were living very dangerously, a point underscored as Hanley deflected a midfielder drive just off target. But they reached the halftime without conceding. They were even denied of a great chance of a two-goal lead, Rasmus Kristensen smartly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition slackness.

Second Half Action

Højlund made the keeper into a quick, down save in a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, 45 minutes would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Considering Denmark only required a tie, the direction of play right from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the home team. They were managing – somewhat – in breaking up Danish offensives but immediately giving the ball back to those in red.

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

The official originally noticed no infringement with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. Indeed, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to check by the VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. The striker blasted home. On the balance, parity was the least Denmark merited but the hosts had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Late Heroics

All this exciting match was missing was a red card. It arrived on the hour, the defender's another infraction of the match on a attacking midfielder earning another yellow card. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the strikers one substitute and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish defending of an curling midfielder set piece was disorganized, allowing Shankland to finish. The substitute, introduced for his attacking prowess, showed exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had reason to be furious at how simple it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their advantage. Within three minutes, a Danish player placed into the net after a teammate passed into his way inside the box from the net. This time Scotland were overly careless.

Adams flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's curling attempt just missed the upright. Enter Tierney and a strike worthy to deciding the game. McLean provided the finish: from the center circle, no less.