Kieran Tierney & Kenny McLean Send the Scottish Team to World Cup with Electrifying Triumph Over Denmark

Hampden Park has witnessed many memorable moments over its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Add this match to the annals. The Scottish extended wait is over. The manager, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling shot from outside the box appeared to sealed victory in a high-scoring affair before the substitute delivered an still more stunning clincher.

Almost 30 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the global tournament from a distance, were wiped away as Denmark fell to a loss in injury time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. Denmark's qualification in the next jamboree hinges on qualifiers. The coach and a suddenly jubilant Scottish football community can prepare solid arrangements.

PhD students could develop work on the manner in which Scotland pulled off this. They looked down and out at times, as recently as Saturday when suffering a loss in Athens. It was like fate had predetermined the Scots had waited long enough for a World Cup return. The contributions of the defender and McLean were extraordinary.

The Game Kicks Off

The evening had apparently opened in tough circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been due to partner Scott McKenna in central defence, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of disruption was banished within the first few minutes.

It was among the most spectacular goals produced at Hampden in living memory.

The winger maneuvered on the right flank. His arched pass should have been difficult for McTominay to handle. He was with his back to goal, initially. Rather, McTominay propelled himself into the air and planted an scissor kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous venue exploded, not only in recognition of the opening goal but the special circumstances in which it occurred. Wow.

Midfield Battle

McTominay was performing like a man possessed. The young winger seemed dynamic. The home team's danger was evident in pushing forward aggressively; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the opposition striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was raised but he could have been onside a further inspection if it had been necessary. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danes with his pace. It felt a big setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to stop a pass. He left the pitch on a stretcher after just the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the net but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were playing extremely dangerously, a point further emphasised as Hanley turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg shot just wide. Yet they made it to the break still ahead. They were even robbed of a golden chance of a second goal, a Danish defender smartly taking out McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of opposition carelessness.

Final Period Excitement

Højlund made Gordon into a quick, down save within a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would seem like the decades since their last World Cup. Considering the visitors only needed a tie, the flow of play from the start of the second period felt worrying for the hosts. Scotland were managing – to a point – in breaking up Danish offensives but promptly handing the possession right back to those in red.

When the equaliser came, it came with the scent of cordite involved.

The official originally saw no infringement with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, Szymon Marciniak awarded the spot. Højlund blasted home. On the balance, the equalizer was the least the away side deserved but the hosts had reason to be sore about the call.

Late Drama

All this exciting match lacked was a sending off. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a attacking midfielder earning another yellow card. Then Clarke twisted by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to work out. The Danish defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated exactly that. The opposition manager the coach, though, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their advantage. Within moments, Patrick Dorgu slotted home after a teammate passed into his path inside the box from the net. On this occasion the defense were too lenient.

The striker flicked a shot wide. The midfielder's curling attempt narrowly went past the upright. Then came Tierney and a strike fit to deciding any match. The substitute provided the finish: from the center circle, at that.