SCOTLAND 4 DENMARK 2
KIERAN TIERNEY scored the goal of a lifetime as Scotland overcame Denmark at a pulsating Hampden tonight to seal a place in next summer’s World Cup Finals.
It was an evening of sheer drama as the encounter entered stoppage-time with the countries tied at 2-2.
At that stage, the Danes were looking out the passports for the soccer showpiece in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Three minutes into the added period, the Celtic left-back popped up with a wonder strike to hand the advantage back to the Scots who had opened the scoring in the third minute with a spectacular overhead-kick by Scott McTominay.
SPECTACULAR…Scott McTominay produces a stunning overhead-kick to open the scoring against Denmark.
That was wiped out by a VAR-assisted Rasmus Højlund penalty-kick 11 minutes after the interval.
As the national stadium rocked, the Danes were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Victor Kristensen saw red after his second booking for a wayward challenge on John McGinn.
Tierney came on for the disappointing Aaron Hickey in the 72nd minute as the Scots attempted to be more positive against well-drilled opponents.
The stadium exploded in delirium in the 77th minute when Lawrence Shankland tapped in from two yards after a Lewis Ferguson left-wing corner-kick had bewildered the visitors’ rearguard.
Amazingly, the Danes equalised four minutes later when Patrick Dorgu swept in a low drive to leave Craig Gordon helpless to silence the Tartan Army.
HAMPDEN JOY BOYS…Kieran Tierney is congratulated by John McGinn as boss Steve Clarke prepares to join in the clebratons for Scotland’s third goal.
It looked as though Scotland were heading for the play-offs in March until Tierney curled in an exquisite 25-yard left-foot effort past Hoops team-mate Kasper Schmeichel to his right.
With almost the last kick of the ball, Kenny McLean spotted the keeper off his line as he picked up as loose pass on the halfway line.
As Schmeichel tried to race back into position, the midfielder sent a superb effort over his head and into the gaping net for the clinching goal on a night of breathtaking action.
When the smoke of battled had cleared, Scotland were in the World Cup Finals for the first time since France 1998.
Take a bow, lads…especially Kieran Tierney!
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