Scotland are incredibly within one game of their first men’s World Cup finals since 1998 as Denmark’s draw with Belarus kept their hopes alive after a thrilling defeat in Greece.
After 63 minutes, the Scots were 3-0 down to the already-eliminated Greeks while the Danes led Belarus at Parken.
Cheaply given away goals from Tasos Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis had the dream of automatic qualification quashed with the play-offs beckoning in March.
But, then, the Belarusians equalised. Three minutes later, as the clock struck 65 in both games, Ben Gannon-Doak slammed in his first Scotland goal while Nikita Demchenko fired the bottom side in Group C into the most unlikeliest of leads in Copenhagen.
As the improbable news reached Pireaus, Ryan Christie nodded Scotland back to within one on a chaotic night – where they had already hit the bar, squandered glorious chances and rode a mountain of luck.
Denmark drew level to force an even more frantic final 10 minutes in both games, while Greece captain Bakasetas’ second yellow card buoyed a galvanised Scotland.
Substitute George Hirst had another goal-bound effort hooked away before the Scots were left hanging their hopes on the nation ranked 100th in the world holding on at the home of the top seeds.
Belarus bailed Scotland out. Now, they are one win away from reaching a first World Cup in 28 years.