Denmark 2-1 Wales: Visitors still without Nations League point despite improved performance (original) (raw)
Wales remain bottom of their UEFA Women's Nations League group after falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark in Viborg on Tuesday.
A spirited performance, much improved from the 5-1 reverse at the Cardiff City Stadium last month, wasn't enough to prevent another loss for Gemma Grainger's side, who remain without a point in Group Three of League A.
First-half goals from Amalie Vangsgaard and Sofie Bredgaard proved enough for the hosts.
Vansgaard was denied by the crossbar after the interval, before Jess Fishlock rattled in her 38th international goal, which ultimately proved to be a consolation.
Despite conceding 10 goals in their last two Nations League outings, the visitors actually showed some promising signs defensively, although the hosts nevertheless had chances.
Vangsgaard flashed an early effort over the bar following Frederikke Thogersen's low cross, while the impressive Bredgaard would surely have fired the hosts in front had the ball not got stuck under her feet after being teed up brilliantly by Sofie Svava three minutes later.
But the hosts were not to be denied, and duly took the lead just before half an hour.
Bredgaard was afforded too much space out wide after a sloppy clearance, and her curling cross found the head of Vangsgaard, whose glanced header left Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark with no chance.
Ten minutes later, it was two. Angharad James played herself into trouble in her own penalty area, allowing Mille Gejl to nip in and tee up Bredgaard, who then applied a smart finish.
Fishlock whistled an effort over the bar in what was the only real sight of goal for the visitors before the break. Indeed, Denmark would have had a third were it not for Clark's low save to deny Vangsgaard.
The Paris St Germain forward was then denied by the woodwork as the contest ticked past the hour mark, while Rhiannon Roberts might have considered herself lucky not to have given away a penalty after appearing to handle Josefine Hasbo's shot.
Clark then denied Vangsgaard with a smart save as Denmark continued to create chances, but Wales hung on and fought their way back into the game 18 minutes from time.
Some fine work from substitute Kayleigh Green saw Wales win possession deep inside the Denmark half, with Sophie Ingle then slipping in Fishlock, and she made no mistake in drilling home her second goal of the campaign.
But while taking the wind out of Denmark's sails, Wales couldn't carve open a meaningful opportunity to level, and remain in serious danger of relegation from League A.
However, while this performance might not silence some of Grainger's critics, there were undoubtedly some real signs of improvement ahead of what now looks a crucial home clash with Iceland on December 1.
Denmark: Christensen, Thorgersen, Obaze, Ballisager, Veje, Gejl (Hasbo 54), Kuhl, Troelsgaard, Svava (Madsen 72), Bredgaard (Holmgaard 87), Vangsgaard
Subs: Larsen, Ostergaard, Thrige, Nadim, Olesen, Sorenson, Gevitz, Faerge, Bruun
Wales: Clark, Roberts, Ladd, Evans, J Green (Estcourt 89), Woodham (Hughes 76), James, Ingle, Fishlock, F Morgan (Powell 76), Jones (K Green 66)
Subs: O'Sullivan, Middleton-Patel, Williams, Longhurst, McAteer, E Morgan, Wynne, Filbey
18:54KEY EVENT
Full-time
Wales were pushing, but couldn't quite fashion an opening.
All over.
90 minsTom Coleman
Offside
Corner's taken short, but Denmark somehow manage to get penalised for offside.
Five minutes added on, by the way.
90 minsTom Coleman
Corner for Denmark
Veje's shot takes a deflection and goes wide.
89 minsTom Coleman
Another Wales sub
Estcourt is introduced for Josie Green
87 minsTom Coleman
Sub for Denmark
Bredgaard coming off for Holmgaard.
84 minsTom Coleman
Freekick to Wales
James curls in from deep and it bounces all the way to the keeper.
76 minsTom Coleman
Double change for Wales
Lily Woodham and Ffion Morgan are off, replaced by Elise Hughes and Ella Powell.
73 minsKEY EVENT
GOAL! Denmark 2-1 Wales (Fishlock)
Oh hello...
Kayleigh Green does so well to put Obaze under pressure.
Seizes on the loose ball and feeds Ingle, who then slips in for Fishlock.
The finish is really good. Drilled home. Suddenly Wales are back in this.
71 minsTom Coleman
Change for Denmark
Svava makes way for Madsen.
66 minsTom Coleman
Change for Wales
Kayleigh Green is on for Carrie Jones.
63 minsTom Coleman
Deflected wide
Hasbo's drop of the shoulder inside the box has the Wales bamboozled.
Fires in the shot, but it's deflected. Looked like it might have come off a Welsh hand in fact. Think it was Roberts who got the decisive touch.
Corner comes to nothing
60 minsTom Coleman
Crossbar!
Wales far too open defensively.
Svava has acres of space out wide on the left and whips in a really good ball for Vangsgaard.
Her looping header has Clark beaten, but it glances the bar.
58 minsTom Coleman
Half-chance
Vangsgaard fluffs her lines at the far post as another teasing ball comes in from the right.
54 minsTom Coleman
Sub for Denmark
Gejl is unable to continue. She's replaced by Hasbo.
53 minsTom Coleman
Wales survive
Delivered in to Troelsgaard, but she can't really control.
Denmark recycle possession and deliver the ball back in.
Clark claims again.
51 minsTom Coleman
Nervy moments for Wales
Josie Green nearly turns into her own net following Thogersen's cross.
Corner's delivered low to the near post. Kuhl picks it up on the edge of the area but is crowded out.
Denmark win another corner.
Svava's cross is turned over the bar by Roberts.
47 minsTom Coleman
Clark claims
Svava bounces a cross into the box from the left.
Slightly awkward one for the keeper, but she does well to claim.
18:04KEY EVENT
Second half
We're back underway!
17:48KEY EVENT
Half-time
That's the end of what's been a frustrating first half for the visitors.
Denmark in control so far.
45+1 minsTom Coleman
Save from Clark!
Wonderfully timed run from Vangsgaard, who gets on the end of a long ball over the top down the right.
Clark gets down low to turn her shot round the post.
Corner comes to nothing.
45 minsTom Coleman
Added time
One minute to be added on here.
44 minsTom Coleman
Just over
Fishlock curls in a really good ball for Morgan inside the area.
She can't get a shot away and Woodham is there to take over.
Lets fly, but the shot is blocked.
The ball's delivered back in a few moments later and Veje's header away falls for Fishlock.
She crashes a drive just over the bar.
41 minsTom Coleman
Morgan tries to make something happen
Tries to play a pass through the middle of the Denmark defence, but it's read well and Denmark clear.
39 minsKEY EVENT
GOAL! Denmark 2-0 Wales (Bredgaard)
Deary me.
Angharad James plays herself into trouble inside her own area after initially doing well to intercept.
Mille Gejl nips in and tees up Bredgaard, who curls into the top corner.
Lovely finish, but a really poor goal from a Wales point of view.
35 minsTom Coleman
Penalty shout
Woodham delivers a freekick towards the far post.
It pinballs around the area between a few Danish shirts.
Vangsgaard tries to clear and it comes off Troelsgaard.
Wales politely ask the question as to whether it might have come off a hand, but replays suggest that would have been harsh.
29 minsKEY EVENT
GOAL! Denmark 1-0 Wales (Vangsaard)
It's been coming.
Denmark once again find some joy down the right, and Bredgaard is given too much space to whip in the cross.
Vangsgaard rises and glances the header home.
25 minsTom Coleman
Wales showing signs of life
Morgan dinks in a cross following a neat one-two out on the right.
Straight at the keeper.
24 minsTom Coleman
Lovely move from Denmark
Svava does really well to get in behind the right-hand side of the Welsh defence.
Squares low for Bredgaard, but she gets it caught under her feet.
Trickles in for Clark to gather.
21 minsTom Coleman
Over
Standard of passing has been really impressive from the hosts.
Roberts does just about enough to put off Vansgaard as Thogersen delivers a cross in from the right.
Not sure how much she really knew about that, in fairness, but it's enough to put off Vangsaard.
17 minsTom Coleman
Half-chance
Bredgaard delivers a freekick from deep towards the far-post.
Troelsgaard is there, but she can't get a good connection on it.
Goal kick.