Wallner snuffs out Denmark's fire
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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Austria 2-1 Denmark
Roman Wallner scored the winner as FIFA World Cup finals hopefuls Denmark lost 2-1 to Austria despite responding well to an early setback.
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Austria 2-1 Denmark
A Roman Wallner goal eight minutes before the interval gave Austria a 2-1 win against 2010 FIFA World Cup finals contenders Denmark, with Morten Olsen's side unable to kick on after levelling matters in Vienna.
Austria were ahead after 12 minutes, with Franz Schiemer heading in after a free-kick from the left, but the lead lasted just five minutes, as Arsenal FC striker Nicklas Bendtner got his head to a corner. Denmark looked marginally the better side at that point, but Austria regained control of the game – and the lead – when Wallner struck eight minutes before the interval.
The three first-half goals came despite a relative dearth of goalscoring chances, with set pieces always looking to be the most dangerous options for both teams. Denmark picked up the pace after half-time, but with substitutions taking some of the dynamic out of the match, there was to be little to entertain fans of either side in the second period.