Sports
McTominay wonder goal sets hosts on path to first World Cup finals in 28 years
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.
McTominay netted a sublime overhead kick inside the opening five minutes to kick off what was a thrilling evening at Hampden Park 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 into second-half stoppage time, Scotland’s World Cup hopes appeared to be fading. But Kieran Tierney sent the stadium into raptures when he curled 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 live wire 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 in Group C.
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 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.
The very foundations of Hampden Park were then rocked when, with the last kick of the game, McLean lobbed Schmeichel from the half-way line to end a painful 28-year wait to reach a men’s World Cup finals.
