Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean delivered last-minute heroics as Scotland triumphed over Denmark with a 4-2 victory, securing the top position in Group C and paving their way to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Tierney seized the moment three minutes into stoppage time, pouncing on a rebound and launching a powerful shot from a distance that found its mark inside the left post, igniting celebrations at Hampden Park.

In a night filled with stunning goals in Glasgow, McLean added to Denmark’s woes five minutes later, deftly controlling the ball in open space and firing a precise, low long-range shot that nestled into the same corner.

Scott McTominay’s overhead kick was simply sensational to give Scotland the lead

A Historic Goal at Hampden Park

Move over, Zinedine Zidane. The iconic volley Zidane scored for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen during the 2002 Champions League Final has long been celebrated in Hampden Park’s storied history.

For many, it was considered the finest goal ever seen at Scotland’s national stadium—until Tuesday night, when the narrative shifted.

When McTominay flung himself up in the air and connected with a bicycle kick from an unfathomable height, he took the mantle from the French maestro Zizou. 

It was reminiscent of the goal McTominay scored for Napoli last season on the night they won the Serie A title. 

It also carried echoes of a goal Cristiano Ronaldo scored in a Champions League tie for Real Madrid against Juventus in Turin back in 2018. 

Was it the greatest Scotland goal of all-time? That’s another debate. But it’s surely only a toss-up between McTominay and Archie Gemmill against Holland in the 1978 World Cup.

Ben Gannon-Doak’s injury was a setback for the Scots are a pulsating start

Fast Start Fizzles Out

Scotland started the match like a steam train. They were snapping into tackles, winning every 50-50, and pressing Denmark to the point of distraction. 

Steve Clarke’s side were all over the Danes, swarming the red jerseys and winning the ball back in really good areas. It was exactly the kind of start needed on a night like this – and exactly what they had failed to do in so many recent games. 

But it all just fizzled out. Scotland weren’t helped by the injury to Ben Gannon-Doak just after the 15-minute mark. 

The sight of the electric young winger being stretchered off was like a pin to the atmosphere inside Hampden. 

Scotland then had no pace in the team and no out-ball to get them up the pitch. 

For all they started the match well, it proved to be a false dawn on a night when fingernails were chewed to the bone in Mount Florida.

Skipper Andy Robertson conceded a penalty early in the second half to allow the Danes to level

Robertson Had A Tough Night

This was a night that demanded leadership from Scotland’s senior players. Given the pressure that was on the entire team, big characters had to step up and deliver. 

In Andy Robertson, they have a captain who has won Premier League and Champions League titles with Liverpool. 

This was his chance to really drive and inspire those around him, but it didn’t happen. He actually started the match fairly well, but the way Robertson fell off it was emblematic of Scotland as a team. 

Time and time again, he was given the runaround by Denmark winger Gustav Isaksen. 

It was Robertson who fouled Isaksen for the Denmark penalty shortly after half-time, but that was only the half of it. 

The Scotland skipper was skinned relentlessly and exposed as a weak link in the backline. 

His lack of game-time at Liverpool this season caught up with him in a game of this intensity and magnitude. His delivery from out wide was also really poor, sending a couple of crosses straight out of play.

Clarke’s Tactics So Very Nearly Prove Costly

Clarke will now be lauded as the first ever Scotland manager to lead the nation to three major tournaments. No one will ever take that away from him. 

Like him or loathe him, that’s a piece of history he now owns. In the fullness of time, he will be regarded as one of the country’s all-time greats in terms of his ability to dig out results. 

But this was a night that so very nearly went badly wrong. After taking the lead so early, Clarke retreated into his shell and his team fell deeper and deeper. 

Even by the 20-minute mark, it was like the Alamo. Scotland couldn’t just get out of their own half. They were clinging on for dear life. 

When Denmark eventually equalised just after half-time, no one could argue it hadn’t been coming. 

Even against 10 men, Scotland never convinced. They lost a cheap goal to allow Denmark to equalise at 2-2. 

But like much of this campaign over the past couple of months, it was written in the stars. 

Some people don’t believe in fate. But on a night where Scott McTominay scored arguably Scotland’s greatest goal and Kenny McLean scored from fully 40 yards, how else can you explain it? This was meant to be.

Kieran Tierney restored Scotland’s lead in added time to help the Scots qualify

Tierney and McLean writes themselves into Scotland history

Kieran Tierney has endured a tough season since returning to Celtic. Fans have questioned his fitness and ability to go the distance over 90 minutes. 

But none of that mattered last night when he curled in the goal in stoppage time to put Scotland 3-2 up and back on course for the World Cup Finals in America. 

He is now a Scotland legend. So, too, is McLean. With literally the very last kick of the game, the much-maligned midfielder clinched it with a truly stupendous long-range effort. Football? Bloody hell.