Denmark won 1-2 on their visit to Austria and has gone on to lead Group 1 alone, with three points more than their rival today, and already beating Croatia and France by five, who drew (1-1). ). Equality reigned in a match that was delayed for 90 minutes due to a power outage that left the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna without power.
Denmark struck first with a shot by Hojbjerg from inside the area after a lateral cross slightly deflected by the Alpine defense (min 27′). The Danish pivot was excellent in the first half, commanding his teammates in attack and recovering balls to avoid the quick transitions of the Alpine team, led for the second time by coach Ralf Rangnick.
Austria, which went from plus to minus during the first half, noted the absences of Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, who started from the bench in the first half by technical decision after shining against Croatia. Hjulmand was also surprised, leaving Andreas Cornelius out of the starting eleven, author of Denmark’s two goals against France at the Stade de France last week.
David Alaba, who returned to the squad after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, was discreet in the first half and only tried to surprise Schmeichel at the stroke of half-time with a poisoned shot from the corner that the Danish goalkeeper had to clear with fists.
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Austria-Denmark delayed due to power outage in Vienna
Late in the second half, the Austrian captain set up a cross into the box for Marco Friedl, who struck from point-blank range from the right side of the goal and went over the crossbar by inches in a frantic start to the second half.
Arnautovic took the field in the second half and in the 66th minute he was the key to the equalizer by taking advantage of a mistake made between Andersen and Schmeichel at the start to assist Schlager, who leveled the scoreboard when it looked the worst for the local team. Bologna’s electric striker dribbled past Schmeichel minutes later with a beautiful cut, but his shot hit the post and the rebound went wide.
In the final minutes of the match, Stryger Larsen stepped in and fired a powerful right foot into the top corner, well out of Pentz’s reach (min 84′) to make it 1-2 for the Scandinavians.
Austria
1two
Denmark
Austria: Penz; Trimmel, Posch (63. Danso), Alaba, Friedl (min 78. Wöber);- Laimer, X. Schlager, N. Seiwald, D. Ljubicic (min 46. Arnautovic) ; Baumgartner (46. Sabitzer), Kalajdzic (min 46. Gregoritsch).
Denmark: Schmeichel;– Vestergaard (min 52. Cornelius), Andersen, Nelsson;- Kristensen, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Jensen (min 80. Delaney), Maehle (min 66. Stryger Larsen) ; Braithwaite (min 52. Skov Olsen), Poulsen (min 52. Damsgaard).
Goals: 0-1, M.27: Hojbjerg, 1-1, M.66: Schlager. 1-2, M.84: Stryger
Referee: William Collum (Scotland). He booked the visitor Poulsen (34′) and Jensen (64′).
Incidents: Match corresponding to the second qualifying day of the Nations League played at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, before some 18,700 spectators.
see game file
Jose Luis Lopez
