Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to secure Denmark a 1-0 win over Portugal in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final on Thursday.
Match Report
Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to secure Denmark a 1-0 win over Portugal in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final on Thursday.
Hojlund linked up with fellow substitute Andreas Skov Olsen to give Denmark the advantage, making up for Christian Eriksen's first-half penalty miss.
Denmark started brightly, and Mika Biereth forced an early mistake as he charged down Diogo Costa's attempted long ball. The goalkeeper recovered well, though, scrambling back to turn the ball wide for a corner.
Kasper Schmeichel denied Pedro Neto with a fine save moments later, but the clearest opening came in the 23rd minute as Renato Veiga was penalised for a handball in the box.
Eriksen stepped up to the spot, but his was a poor strike, with Costa comfortably getting across to his right to keep it out.
Biereth forced another great save out of Costa 10 minutes before the break, meeting a bouncing cross on the half-turn but seeing the goalkeeper react to tip it wide.
Denmark kept the pressure on in the second half, with Gustav Isaksen's drive tipped just wide by a sprawling Costa before Hojlund fizzed a low shot just past the far post.
Hojlund hit the mark moments later, though. Denmark cut Portugal open with one-touch passes, and the Manchester United forward was unmarked in the middle to guide Skov Olsen's cross into the bottom-right corner.
Data Debrief: Hojlund finds his scoring touch
Hojlund had not scored since early December before hitting the back of the net in United's last game against Leicester City, and he has now scored two goals in his last two appearances.
He came on in the 69th minute and had two Opta-defined big chances, more than anyone else on the pitch.
Denmark were led by his United team-mate, though. Eriksen may have missed his penalty, but he had the most shots (seven), shots on target (three) and touches in the box (eight) of anyone in the game. His chances were worth a combined 1.29 expected goals (xG), more than all of Portugal's attempts combined (0.51 xG).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' Costa’s clearance almost reached Biereth, but he blocked shot to prevent danger!
7' Lindstrom shoots from the periphery of the box, but it is straight at Costa!
9' Neto cuts in from the right and fires a powerful left-footed shot towards goal!
19' Vestergaard with a mis-timed shot, which ends up on wrong side of right upright!
24' Penalty Missed! Eriksen aims for right-side of goal, but Costa punches it away!
35' Neto crosses to Ronaldo, but Christensen clears it just in time!
37' Biereth shoots toward the near post, but Costa tips it for a corner!
43' Dalot denies Eriksen a tap-in with a block, followed by Costa securing the ball!
55' Eriksen takes corner from same end, but is unable to manufacture anything of it!
58' Eriksen is pushed down from behind by Dalot after the latter gave the ball away!
64' Match Event for Denmark vs Portugal
69' Match Event for Denmark vs Portugal
79' GOAL! Denmark 1-0 Portugal (Andreas Skov Olsen)
Line-ups
Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Eriksen, Vestergaard, Christian Nørgaard, Andersen, Rasmus Kristensen, Joakim Maehle, Morten Hjulmand, Jesper Lindstrøm, Gustav Isaksen, Mika Biereth
Subs: Victor Nelsson, Olsen, Morten Frendrup, Jonas Wind, Jørgensen, Mads Hermansen, Højlund, Patrick Dorgu, Lucas Høgsberg, Conrad Harder, Victor Froholdt
Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Diogo Costa, Dalot, Pedro Neto, Leao, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Renato Veiga
Subs: Rui Silva, Semedo, Jose Sa, Neves, Palhinha, Bernardo Silva, Jota, Trincão, Felix, Gonçalo Inácio, António Silva, Geovany Quenda