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Scotland's national stadium has hosted many memorable moments throughout its rich history since 1903. Remember this game to the record. Scotland's extended wait has concluded. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them the defender, whose swerving shot from distance appeared to clinched victory by the odd goal in five until Kenny McLean delivered an still more spectacular clincher.

Nearly 27 years of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have observed men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were obliterated as Denmark fell to a loss in added time. Adult fans in traditional dress cried. The Danish participation in the next jamboree hinges on qualifiers. Clarke and a now jubilant Scottish football community can begin planning solid plans.

PhD students could produce work on how on earth the team achieved this. They looked defeated at points, no more recently than Saturday when suffering defeat in Athens. It was like fate had predetermined the Scots had waited long enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Unfolds

The evening had reportedly started in tough circumstances for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the pregame. His replacement took his place. All problem was banished within the first few minutes.

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

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. His floated delivery was expected to be difficult for the midfielder to control. He was facing away from the net, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick beyond the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic venue exploded, not only in appreciation of the opening goal but the remarkable situation in which it came. Incredible.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed dynamic. Scottish threat was evident in going on the offensive aggressively; Craig Gordon denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The offside flag was raised but he might have survived a second check were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a battle to hold their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his quickness. It felt a big blow to Clarke, then, as the player overstretched when attempting to block a cross. He departed the field on a stretcher after only the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was penalised for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely dangerously, a point further emphasised as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly wide. Yet Scotland reached the halftime unscathed. They were even robbed of a great opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the player capitalised on opposition carelessness.

Second Half Action

Højlund forced Gordon into a quick, low stop within the opening moments of the restart. If Scotland were going to qualify, 45 minutes would be like the long wait since the tournament. Given Denmark only needed a draw, the flow of play from the onset of the half felt worrying for the hosts. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly giving the possession right back to the players in red.

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

The official initially noticed nothing wrong with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the box. In fact, it seemed Isaksen dived into the ground. After being instructed to check by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. The striker blasted home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side deserved but Scotland had cause to be sore about the call.

Late Drama

All this exciting game was missing was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing a second yellow card. Now Clarke made a change by throwing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to work out. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, letting Shankland to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, showed precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had cause to be furious at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. In moments, a Danish player slotted into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his path from close range from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly generous.

The striker directed a shot off target. The midfielder's curling shot narrowly went past the upright. Enter the defender and a moment fit to win the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the center circle, indeed.