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Scotland's national stadium has witnessed many memorable occasions throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the annals. Scotland's extended drought has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose curling effort from outside the box seemed to have secured the win in a high-scoring affair before Kenny McLean delivered an still more stunning fourth.

Nearly 30 years of heartache, during which Scotland have seen the global tournament from afar, were wiped away as the Danish team suffered a loss in injury time. Adult fans in kilts cried. Denmark's qualification in next summer’s jamboree depends on playoff matches. Clarke and a now giddy Scottish football community can begin planning definite plans.

Academics could develop work on the manner in which the team accomplished this. They appeared finished at times, no more recently than the weekend when falling to a loss in Greece. It was as though someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scots had endured sufficient for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Kicks Off

The night had supposedly started in tough circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside Scott McKenna in central defence, was hurt in the pregame. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of disruption was banished in three minutes.

It was some of the most wondrous strikes scored at the stadium in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery should have been tricky for the midfielder to handle. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Instead, McTominay launched himself into the sky and executed an bicycle kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. This renowned stadium exploded, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the unique context in which it occurred. Incredible.

Game Struggle

McTominay was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak appeared electric. The home team's offense shone in pushing forward aggressively; Craig Gordon saved from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund could have been onside a second check if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scottish area and the defender deflected well from another attacker, the Scots were in a fight to hold their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danes with his speed. It felt a major blow to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when trying to stop a pass. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only the opening period.

Højlund shortly had the goal in the net but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very dangerously, a point highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder shot narrowly off target. Yet Scotland made it to the break unscathed. They were also denied of a golden opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling McGinn, receiving a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish slackness.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund forced the keeper into a smart, down save in the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, the half would feel like the long wait since their last World Cup. Given the visitors only required a tie, the direction of play from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – somewhat – in breaking up Denmark attacks but promptly handing the possession right back to the players in red.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of cordite associated.

The referee initially saw no infringement with the captain's tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed the player went down into the ground. After being instructed to check by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the spot. The striker blasted home. On the balance, parity was the least the away side deserved but Scotland had reason to be sore about the decision.

Late Action

The only thing exciting encounter lacked was a dismissal. It arrived on the hour, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder earning a second caution. Now Clarke twisted by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, allowing the striker to finish. The substitute, introduced for his goal-scoring ability, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be angry at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. Within a short time, Patrick Dorgu slotted into the net after a teammate laid into his path from close range from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly generous.

Adams flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's curling attempt just missed the post. Enter Tierney and a goal worthy to deciding any match. The substitute added gloss: from the midfield, at that.