The home side had only scored seven goals in qualifying before tonight, but Dion Charles came agonisingly close to giving them the lead in the eighth minute, when he latched onto a weak header back from Victor Kristiansen and unleashed a powerful effort across Kasper Schmeichel’s goal which came back off the post.
Michael O’Neill’s men kept their shape well in defence, limiting the group leaders to a few long-range half-chances in the opening 30 minutes, before Kasper Dolberg failed to divert the ball goalwards from six yards after a neat move down the left flank. As the Danes continued to dominate before the break, they finally forced Conor Hazard into action. First through Joachim Andersen’s header from a corner, and then a swerving 30-yard strike from Andreas Christensen.
Denmark began the second half on top, but again the first clear opportunity of the half fell to the hosts. Jamal Lewis attacked down the left wing following a long throw, and floated in a cross which was met by Eoin Toal, but the defender’s header went narrowly wide. On the hour mark, Northern Ireland scored a deserved opener. Lewis began the move from the edge of his own area, and a free-flowing move involving George Saville and both Dion and Shea Charles was finished with a flourish by Isaac Price, whose first-time shot beat Schmeichel at his near post.
Kasper Hjulmand turned to his reinforcements to find an equaliser, one of whom, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, wasted the best chance by sending his volley from the edge of the area well wide. But as they threw men forward, Denmark were caught on the break with 10 minutes remaining. Saville’s long pass forward found Conor McMenamin on the left wing, and his ball across the 18-yard box found an unmarked Dion Charles, who fired the ball into the roof of the net for his third goal of the ECQ cycle.
The impressive win means Northern Ireland have finally picked up points in this campaign against someone other than San Marino, while Denmark’s seven-match unbeaten run has come to an end, but they can now turn their attentions to the Euro 2024 draw.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Dion Charles (Northern Ireland)
