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Yussuf Poulsen hands Denmark victory over Peru

Denmark took advantage of some sloppy Peru finishing including a missed penalty to win their opening World Cup Group C clash 1-0.

Yussuf Poulsen got the decisive goal (59) but Peru only had themselves to blame as they squandered a plethora of chances, most notably when Christian Cueva blazed over a first-half penalty, which was awarded after a VAR review.

The disciplined Danes were also indebted to goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who made six saves and now hasn’t conceded a goal in international football for 534 minutes.

The result leaves Denmark joint-top of Group C with France, who beat Australia 2-1 earlier on Saturday.

Andre Carrillo set the tone for a spell of early Peru pressure with a rasping 20-yard drive that was pushed clear by Schmeichel.

Denmark were keen to soak up pressure but were struggling to get Christian Eriksen into the game. Peru kept on probing and, with the help of VAR, won a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Poulsen dangled a leg which tripped Cueva and initially the appeals were waved away by the referee but, after contacting his video assistants and his pitch-side TV, he awarded the penalty.

Cueva stepped up but his adrenaline got the better of him as he spanked the penalty way over the crossbar.

Denmark enjoyed their best spell of the match after the break and struck gold on 59 minutes.

With Peru out of their defensive shape, Eriksen conjured up a moment of quality to release Poulsen, who kept his cool and finished into the bottom corner.

Paolo Guerrero was introduced by Peru on 62 minutes, which triggered a response. The striker nearly produced a leveller on 79 minutes but his cheeky back-heel spun wide of the post before Schmeichel took centre stage to deny Carrillo and Jefferson Farfan as the Danes held on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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