Norway 1-2 Scotland: Erling Haaland upstaged by Scotland’s act of escapology in Oslo

And it was and is and probably always will be. Everybody looked stunned, Scots and Norwegians alike. McLean was hugged by each team-mate in turn, the gist of the reaction being something akin to: “What just happened?”

Did Scotland gain some sort of psychological lift when they saw Haaland departing? Did the Norwegians collapse when Dykes made it 1-1? They looked for the big man, but the big man wasn’t there anymore.

The only giant left on the field was the Tattooed Tank rather than the Norse God. It was Dykes’ subtle lay-off to McLean for that gobsmacking winner.

Scott McTominay dives on his Scotland team-mates in celebration

Kenny McLean’s late winner sparked wild celebrations among Scotland players and fans

When these games are over, give Dykes a large Cohiba. Damn it, give him a box of

El Gigantes. The proper stuff. Put him on a private jet to Ibiza.

Stick him behind the decks and let him party like he’s Haaland. In a handful of minutes, with his goal and his assist, he stole Haaland’s thunder in his own backyard. Nobody saw that one coming.

It was a victory that defied logic because Scotland were way below par for much of it. When Dykes scored, the sense of relief at salvaging a hugely valuable point at the death was seismic.

We got ready to hail Scotland’s character, their never-say-die spirit. How admirable it was to dig out a point when failing to deliver anything like your best stuff. Sign of a good team, that.

When McLean made it 2-1, there was a surreal air. They’ve scored again! They’re ahead! They’ve won! Now the praise turned into superlatives. This was a match played in searing heat, away from home, against an opponent that was better than them for 86 minutes.

McLean had scored one goal all season, away to Rotherham United in November. The only time he’d scored for his country was against San Marino more than four years ago. It would have only been marginally more surprising had it been goalkeeper Angus Gunn who materialised up front and curled in the most perfect finish.

‘Georgia can’t come quickly enough now’

McLean’s goal, though, could prove to be deeply significant. Clarke was fantastically deadpan when asked about the overall significance of the win, but Scotland are still sitting on top of the group with a handsome nine points, seven goals scored with only one conceded, which was that Haaland penalty that we all thought was going to be centre-piece of the post-mortem. Was it harsh or not? Was Ryan Porteous daft or unlucky? It doesn’t matter now. Scotland can leave that stuff behind in their slipstream as they motor back to Glasgow and a game with the Georgians on Tuesday night.

It cannot come quickly enough now. Scotland beat Cyprus in their first game, as you expected them to do. They thoroughly outplayed Spain, which was a surprise. But Oslo? That was a sensation, nothing less.

An act of escapology that made you rub your eyes in wonder, a footballing marvel that had the Tartan Army floating on air despite the gallons of beer in their bellies.

They will have enjoyed their night in Oslo. You really get the sense now that there’s plenty more of these nights to come and that some of them will be most likely happening at the Euro 2024 finals in Germany next summer.

The masses may not be at the bookingthe-flights stage just yet, but they’re close. Routes are being examined, options explored. Bank balances might be creaking before long.