Armenia dent Denmark's EURO qualifying hopes
Monday, September 7, 2015
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Armenia 0-0 Denmark
A second goalless draw in four days leaves Denmark needing favours from others if they are to finish in the top two in Group I.
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- Denmark restricted to second 0-0 draw in four days
- Morten Olsen's side vying with Albania and Portugal for the top two places in Group I
- Armenia, who cannot finish higher than fourth, claim only second qualifying point
- Denmark now unbeaten in six away qualifiers (W4, D2)
- Next games: Portugal v Denmark (8 October), Armenia v Albania (11 October)
Denmark's aspirations of gaining automatic UEFA EURO 2016 qualification from Group I suffered a dent as they were held to another 0-0 draw.
Friday's stalemate at home to Albania was a missed opportunity for Morten Olsen's men but today's repeat in Yerevan could prove fatal with only next month's match at section leaders Portugal to come for Denmark. Portugal and Albania both have games in hand.
Denmark made a bright enough start, showing plenty of purpose and intent. Riza Durmisi went close inside two minutes with a free-kick that tested Gevorg Kasparov's reflexes at his left post, but gradually they waned and Armenia, with only pride to play for, began to take a grip.
By the break they were on top yet without a shot on target to show for it, though Gevorg Ghazaryan really ought to have tested Kasper Schmeichel with a free header midway through the half. Denmark were once again being nullified. What Morten Olsen would have done to have the guiding hand of the injured Christian Eriksen in midfield.
The second period was initially more of the same though gradually Denmark pushed on in search of the elusive goal. They almost paid immediately as Armenia broke on 66 minutes, substitute Ruslan Koryan slipping Yura Movsisyan through but, with only Schmeichel to beat, the striker fired into the side-netting.
Kasparov was soon required at the other end to keep out Nicklas Bendtner's rasping drive yet the Denmark siege never materialised. Indeed, it could have been worse for the Danes as Artem Simonyan almost snatched a late winner for Armenia, shooting a whisker wide.