Rasmus Hojlund’s penalty saw Denmark snatch a 1-0 victory away to Wales in their UEFA Nations League clash in Cardiff.
Hojlund dispatched Denmark’s match-clinching 75th-minute penalty winner into the bottom left corner, after Danny Ward had fouled Gustav Isaksen as he attempted to parry a loose ball following the Dane’s flicked interception touch.
Denmark stayed second in League A4 but Wales moved above Norway into third on their head-to-head record after the Norwegians lost 2-1 away to 10-men Portugal, as Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Ramos fired the Portuguese to a comeback 2-1 win after Kristoffer Ajer’s opening goal despite a red card for Francisco Conceicao.
With the race for the second Quarter-Final spot in League A4 wide open and Wales plus Denmark locked on three points apiece alongside Norway at kick-off, it wasn’t surprising that this clash initially proved scrappy as Wales’ Ethan Ampadu fired over then Hojlund’s sixth-minute shot for Denmark was saved.
The first half soon continued in that scrappy vein as Brennan Johnson fired wide for Wales in the 10th minute, then set up Lewis Koumas nine minutes later before the latter’s shot was deflected behind.
Denmark however had chances of their own as Mohamed Daramy teed up Hojlund with a 32nd-minute cutback, yet the Dane’s shot was blocked by Ampadu.
Gustav Isaksen then fired a cutback pass from substitute, Andreas Skov Olsen over the bar as the Danes continued to turn up their intensity before half time, yet Wales stood firm in their defensive resilience until the break as Oliver Provstgaard nodded over from a recycled free-kick.
Denmark continued their momentum early in the second half as Hojlund met a 50th-minute low cross into the centre of the box, yet Ward was alert to kick his shot away from goal.
Ward then punched Isaksen’s header onto the left post from which the ball ricocheted away five minutes later.
The momentum then swung Wales’ way but Johnson curled a left-footed shot over the bar from Sorba Thomas’ 63rd-minute cross.
Denmark eventually forced a game changing moment in the 73rd minute after Ward’s pass to Davies was intercepted by Isaksen, but the Dane flicked his shot up into the air and as Ward dived to parry the ball away he collected Isaksen in the process.
Hojlund subsequently dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner to put Denmark in front as Ward incorrectly dived to his left side.
Wales eventually were unable to force a late equaliser as Denmark clung on to stay second in the group, which has left Craig Bellamy’s Welsh Dragons needing to win their last two matches in November to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages.
What’s Next?
Wales are back in action on Saturday 14 November as they visit Norway in a 6pm CET (5pm GMT) kick-off at Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, in their penultimate group match.
Denmark meanwhile visit Portugal at Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, on the same date in a 8:45pm CET kick-off.
Teams
Wales: Danny Wards, Neco Williams, Ben Cabango, Ben Davies (Moore 83′), Jay Dasilva, Jordan James (Sheehan 56′), Ethan Ampadu, Brennan Johnson (Colwill 76′), Liam Cullen (Burns 76′), Sorba Thomas, Lewis Koumas (Harris 56′)
Substitutes: Cian Ashford, Wes Burns, Joel Colwill, David Cornell, Mark Harris, Dan James, Tom King, Jayden Lienou, Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore, Connor Roberts, Josh Sheehan
Denmark: Mads Hermansen, Rasmus Kristensen (Gaaei 76′), Joachim Andersen, Oliver Provstgaard, Joakim Maehle, Victor Froholdt, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Skov Olsen 10′), Gustav Isaksen (Kvistgaarden 82′), Rasmus Hojlund (Hogh 82′), Mohamed Daramy
Substitutes: Mads Bidstrup, Adam Daghim, Mathias Kvistgaarden, Anton Gaaei, Lucas Hogsberg, Andreas Jungdal, Filip Jorgensen, Thomas Jorgensen, Victor Nelsson, Andreas Skov Olsen, Kasper Hogh
Referee – Irfan Poljto (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
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