Written by George Nash for BBC Scotland and Bill Heaney
Helensburgh man Scott McTominay scored a wonder goal as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to send the Tartan Army to a first World Cup finals since 1998.
And Dumbarton’s – and now Dalmuir’s – John McGinn, the Scotland captain, drove the national team on from midfield to this unforgettable victory over the Danes.
With the stadium rocking with delight at Hampden, the veteran Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who once biefly coached Dumbarton FC, played the match of his life at the age of 43.
McTominay netted a sublime overhead kick inside the opening five minutes to kick off what was a thrilling evening for Steve Clarke’s side.
Rasmus Hojlund had levelled for Denmark from the penalty spot before the visitors were reduced to 10 men Rasmus Kristensen received a second booking.
Substitute Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland’s lead but again they were pegged back when Patrick Dorgu fired in with nine minutes remaining.
As the clock ticked on into second-half stoppage time, Scotland’s World Cup hopes appeared to be fading.
But Clydebank’s Kieran Tierney sent the stadium into raptures when he curled the ball home before Kenny McLean added a fourth with the last kick of the match to cap off one of the greatest nights in Scottish football history.
Fireworks welcomed the two teams onto the pitch moments before kick-off. But it was McTominay who truly lit up Hampden Park when, after four minutes, he produced a spectacular acrobatic goal to send the noise levels inside an already raucous stadium into the stratosphere.
From Ben Gannon-Doak’s cross from the right, the Napoli midfielder launched into an outrageous bicycle kick with the delivery at head height. The ball flew beyond the diving Kasper Schmeichel and into the corner of the net.
Gannon-Doak, a livewire out wide, then had to be stretchered off before McTominay’s club teammate, Hojlund, saw an effort ruled out.
The visitors were beginning to pile on the pressure, Hojund again going close with a header that skimmed narrowly over.
The Scottish defence was holding firm, that was until 10 minutes after the break when an Andy Robertson foul on Gustav Isaksen was adjudged to have been made inside the box following a lengthy VAR check.
Hojlund smashed the resulting spot-kick home, sending Craig Gordon the wrong way, to give Denmark the advantage.
It was a blow for Scotland, albeit one that had been coming. However, the Tartan Army were given a glimmer of hope on the hour when Kristensen received his marching orders for a second yellow card after a soft coming together with John McGinn.
And their prayers were answered courtesy of substitute Shankland when he turned in Lewis Ferguson’s whipped corner to revitalise the home support.
But the elation in Happy Hampden was short-lived, Dorgu firing in the equaliser for the 10-man visitors just four minutes later.
There was to be one final twist in this enthralling Scottish saga, however. In stoppage time, the ball dropped on the edge of the Denmark box and up stepped Tierney to bend the ball into the far corner as the ground erupted in jubilation.
As if that was not enough though. with just one minute left on the clock, Kenny McLean picked up a loose ball in the centre circle, looked up and saw Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel off his line before lobbing the ball over his head to give Scotland a two-goal lead which will take them to the World Cup finals in the USA next summer.
Tartan Army will look ahead to the showpiece World Cup draw on December 5, when Scotland will learn who they will face next year.
The tournament is to be played across Canada, USA and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with each group playing their games in one geographical area.
- The only disappointing aspect to this wonderful match was that to Scotland’s shame Schmeichel,the Denmark goalkeeper, who now plays for Scottish Premier League champions Celtic and was wearing green kit, was boo-ed by a section of the crowd from the kick off.