A cruel, late sucker-punch from Christian Nørgaard shattered Scottish hopes of a famous result in Copenhagen, as Denmark snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifier.
The Tartan Army, who had travelled in numbers, were left utterly heartbroken after their side had battled valiantly for over 85 minutes to secure what would have been a monumental point against the Euro 2020 semi-finalists.
The Danes, still riding a wave of national emotion, started with fierce intensity and were rewarded early on. A devastatingly quick counter-attack saw Joakim Mæhle burst down the left flank before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable, curling effort into the far corner, giving Craig Gordon no chance.
Scotland, however, refused to be cowed. Organised and resilient under Steve Clarke, they weathered the storm and grew into the game. Their persistence paid off just after the half-hour mark. A moment of sheer individual brilliance from John McGinn brought them level. The Aston Villa maestro controlled a cross with his back to goal, swivelled with remarkable agility, and fired a low, driven shot past the despairing dive of Kasper Schmeichel.
The second half became a tense, tactical battle. Scotland defended their box with courage and discipline, repelling wave after wave of Danish pressure. As the clock ticked into the final five minutes, a hard-fought draw seemed inevitable.
But football can be brutally unforgiving. With just four minutes of normal time remaining, a hopeful ball was flicked on in the Scottish penalty area. It fell to the feet of Brentford's Nørgaard, who showed incredible composure to take a touch and rifle a half-volley into the net, sending the Parken Stadium into delirium and leaving the Scots utterly devastated.
This result leaves Scotland's automatic qualification hopes hanging by a thread, with all focus now turning to the must-win encounter against Israel at Hampden Park. The Danes, in contrast, continue their perfect start and look formidable favourites to top the group.
