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Scotland's national stadium has hosted numerous memorable events throughout its long history since 1903. Include this game to the record. Scotland's protracted drought has ended. The manager, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. So too the defender, whose bending effort from distance looked like it had secured success by the odd goal in five before the substitute produced an more spectacular fourth.

Nearly 30 years of frustration, during which Scotland have seen men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were obliterated as the Danish team fell to a loss in stoppage time. Supporters in traditional dress cried. Denmark's chance in the next jamboree hinges on playoff matches. The coach and a suddenly giddy country can start making concrete plans.

PhD students could write studies on how on earth Scotland pulled off this. They looked defeated at times, no more recently than the weekend when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though someone, somewhere had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The contributions of the defender and McLean were incredible.

The Night Begins

The night had supposedly opened in challenging fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner Scott McKenna in defense, was hurt in the pregame. His replacement filled in. Any sense of setback was forgotten within three minutes.

It was some of the most amazing finishes scored at the stadium in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted delivery was expected to be challenging for McTominay to handle. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Instead, he propelled himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous venue roared, not only in recognition of the opening goal but the remarkable context in which it came. Wow.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. The young winger looked explosive. Scottish offense resonated in attacking with great intensity; the goalkeeper denied from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was in alone. The offside flag was up but he could have survived a VAR review were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scottish area and the defender blocked well from another attacker, the Scots were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his pace. It felt a big loss to the manager, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to block a pass. He left the field on a medical cart after only 20 minutes.

The striker shortly had the ball in the goal but was called for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were living very on the edge, a fact further emphasised as Hanley deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly wide. Yet they reached the halftime without conceding. They were even robbed of a great opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the player took advantage of opposition mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made the keeper into a quick, low save within 90 seconds of the restart. If the Scots were going to succeed, the remainder would feel like the long wait since World Cup participation. Considering Denmark only needed a tie, the flow of attacks from the start of the second period felt ominous for the hosts. They were managing – to a point – in breaking up Danish offensives but promptly handing the possession back to the players in red.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the hint of controversy involved.

The official initially noticed no foul with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it seemed the player flung himself into the ground. After being instructed to check by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. Højlund drilled home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark earned but Scotland had reason to be upset about the call.

Late Heroics

All this action-packed match was missing was a red card. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the match on a marauding midfielder bringing a second yellow card. Then Clarke made a change by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, allowing Shankland to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, showed precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had cause to be angry at how simple it was.

The home team had no time to build on their advantage. In a short time, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after a teammate laid into his way inside the box from goal. This time the defense were too lenient.

Adams flicked a shot off target. McGinn bending attempt narrowly went past the upright. Then came the defender and a moment fit to deciding the game. McLean added gloss: from the center circle, indeed.