Dogged Scotland earned their first Nations League victory and ended their long winless run as substitute John McGinn’s late goal finally overcame 10-man Croatia.
The midfielder seized upon a loose ball after Dominik Kotarski parried a Ben Doak shot to send Hampden into belated uproar with his 19th goal for his country.
The victory offers Scotland hope of retaining their Nations League A status, with a relegation play-off in the spring the prize if they can win in Poland on Monday.
Three points in Warsaw could even still earn a place in the Nations League quarter-finals, and a spot among the top seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw, were Croatia to lose at home to Portugal and there be a three-goal swing.
But those permutations can wait for a day or two. More pressing at Hampden was that Steve Clarke’s side badly needed a victory after failing to win their previous 10 competitive matches and having done so only once in their past 16 overall.
Recent performances had offered some encouragement against quality opposition but the Scots were dominated in the opening stages by the impressive Croats.
Part of the issue was self-inflicted errors.
Kenny McLean gifted Andrej Kramaric a chance; Luka Sucic spurned another; then Kramaric’s shot bounced wide after scraping off Craig Gordon’s studs.
That was all within the opening 10 minutes.
Croatia were in total control but the narrative changed when Orel Grinfeeld produced a second yellow card for, what seemed, a nothing challenge by Petar Sucic on John Souttar.
That was the key moment. Croatia were furious, Scotland regrouped at the break, and the complexion of the contest turned on its head and paved the way for this long-awaited win.
Suddenly, Scotland were the dominant side and Doak became increasingly influential.
Billy Gilmour should have played in the teenager in acres of space in front of goal but blazed over instead. The Napoli midfielder did so again shortly afterwards from Doak’s pull back.
Doak himself diverted a back-post volley just off target from a teasing Ryan Gauld cross.
Croatia remained a sporadic threat. Substitute Mario Pasalic got in from Luka Modric’s wonderful ball and ought to have scored, but dinked it just past a post. It was a huge let-off.
And it was punished as Doak got to the byeline and flashed a shot at goal. Kotarski flapped it towards McGinn, who was the hero once more.
Scotland looked for the second goal that would have given them the head-to-head advantage over Croatia, but it was not forthcoming.
Instead, they will go to Poland with their sights on a relegation play-off and relying on Portugal winning in Split to have any chance of an unlikely second-place finish.
McGinn’s goal was his 19th for Scotland – only four men have scored more
Scotland get there, in the end
We will never know what might have happened had the red card not been shown but Scotland will not care.
This vindicates the hard times Scotland have had to endure in this campaign and, while they were handed a huge slice of fortune, they still had to deliver.
That said, Clarke’s side were being taught a lesson in the opening half. Croatia seized the initiative and Scotland repeatedly made mistakes.
Time and time again, players in blue turned over possession far too easily. Often, in the most dangerous of areas. They were riding their luck way too often.
