Great strikes from Darren Fletcher, James McFadden and Paul Hartley got Scotland motoring again at the Petrol Arena in a 3-0 win over Slovenia.
Saturday's defeat against Belarus at Hampden Park killed off Scottish hopes of a play-off place in their quest to make next summer's event in Germany.
But they brought the curtain down on their failed Group Five campaign in some style to suggest the future is bright for the international side under Walter Smith.
The victory might also be valuable to Scotland's seedings for the European Championships, which on this form might just be the setting for their return to the big stage.
Smith made three changes with Nigel Quashie, Andy Webster and James McFadden coming in for suspended Barry Ferguson, injured Lee McCulloch and the dropped Ian Murray.
And Manchester United star Fletcher dragged his team-mates from the gloom of Saturday with a spectacular opener in the fourth minute.
Graham Alexander played the ball inside to the midfielder, who controlled it and steadied himself before letting fly with a stunning right-foot shot which flew past the despairing dive of Samir Handanovic before nestling in the top corner from over 25 yards.
Fletcher was not shy to get back and help his defenders out and he was in the right place at the right time to clear the danger in the eighth minute when Milenko Acimovic burst into the Scotland box and pulled the ball across the face of goal.
Steven Pressley gave the Scots a scare moments later when he underhit his back pass - but club-mate Craig Gordon spared his blushes by charging out to clear up the danger.
Apart from that the visitors looked in control and they posed a threat again in the 18th minute when Dailly curled the ball into the danger area, from Fletcher's ball, but McFadden was unable to get a telling touch on the ball to test Handanovic.
Bostjan Cesar lost his cool when Fletcher won a corner off him and he earned himself a yellow card for complaining about the decision to the linesman.
It could have got even worse for the home side seconds later when Paul Hartley picked out Webster unmarked in the box - but he headed straight at the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
But the home nation came close to levelling in the 28th minute when former Tottenham striker Acimovic picked out Aleksander Knavs at the near post - but he headed inches wide.
McFadden though should have made Scotland's lead more comfortable at the interval when he spurned a great opportunity after Slovenia had been caught upfield.
Pressley sent Kenny Miller away and he unselfishly squared the ball to the Everton youngster, who tried to be too cute to beat the onrushing goalkeeper and only succeeded in sending the ball the wrong side of the upright.
Gordon had to tip over a 30-yard rocket from Acimovic moments later before Rodic was booked for kicking the ball away.
Smith made a double change at the break with Garry O'Connor and Gary Caldwell coming on for Miller and Pressley, taking the opportunity to try different things for the future.
And Scotland caught the home side by surprise again with an early goal at the start of the second half which was just as sweet a strike as the first.
Fletcher showed great vision to pick out McFadden unmarked on the edge of the area and he controlled the ball before flicking a left-foot shot over Handanovic.
It was clearly a night for the spectacular as Acimovic sent a brilliant right-foot strike past Gordon but watched in horror as the ball came back off the crossbar.
Slovenian coach Branko Oblak made changes with Ermin Siljak and Branko Ilic coming on for Pecnik and Rodic.
Quashie became the first Scotland player to be booked in the 59th minute when he fouled Ilic.
Cesar should have set up a grandstand finish when Ceh's corner fell to him under the crossbar - but he flicked the ball down and wide.
Ceh whistled a free-kick wide before Gordon was booked for time-wasting.
Smith made another change with Steven Caldwell coming on for Quashie as the Scotland keeper made another good save, this time from Acimovic.
Brother Gary was booked for a foul with 13 minutes remaining but nothing could depress the celebrating Tartan Army tonight.
And their night got even better with seven minutes to go with Fletcher again the provider.
This time Hartley accepted his pass and he curled a stunning right-foot effort over Handanovic and into the back of the net.
Gordon refused to be beaten and he saved well from Anton Zlogar in the dying seconds to cap a great night for Scotland.
