Scotland 4-2 Denmark: Hampden Park late show secures long-awaited World Cup return
Kieran Tierney's stunner and Kenny McLean's audacious effort capped off a remarkable 4-2 win for Scotland over Denmark on Tuesday.
Scotland sealed World Cup qualification for the first time since 1998 thanks to a remarkable 4-2 victory over 10-man Denmark at Hampden Park.
Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean etched their name in Scottish football folklore on Tuesday, with each of the substitutes scoring long-range stunners in second-half stoppage time.
Scott McTominay's superb overhead kick propelled Scotland into an early lead, with Steve Clarke's team knowing only a win would be enough to see them top Group C.
Yet that was Scotland's only attempt of the first half, with Denmark having 10 going the other way, and the pressure finally told after the break.
Referee Szymon Marciniak adjudged Andy Robertson to have fouled Gustav Isaksen on the line of the Scotland box after a VAR check, and Rasmus Hojlund duly hammered home the spot-kick.
Scotland received a swift boost as Rasmus Kristensen received his second yellow card soon after, but it took until the 78th minute for Lawrence Shankland to drag the hosts back ahead when he turned in Lewis Ferguson's corner.
But the elation turned to desperation for Scotland as Patrick Dorgu side-footed Denmark level three minutes later.
However, in the third minute of stoppage time, Tierney curled a sublime first-time effort beyond Kasper Schmeichel from the edge of the box, paving the way for McLean's strike from the halfway line to catch Denmark's goalkeeper cold and send the Scottish fans into raptures.
Data Debrief: Back in the big time
Scotland's long wait is over. They will feature at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
The two goals that did it both came from outside the area. It is the first time Scotland have scored two goals from outside the penalty area for the first time since June 2017.
Tierney's strike was just his second for Scotland, with his first coming in March 2022.
And though it did not ultimately decide anything, McTominay's screamer set the tone for a frantic game. The Napoli star is Scotland's only player with double figures for both goals (13) and goal involvements (15) since the start of 2023, while he has scored in successive home matches for the first time since June 2023 (run of three).
