Kahlenberg earns Denmark a point

Denmark and the Netherlands are still searching for their first victory in UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group B following their 1-1 draw in Aveiro.

Huntelaar opener
Klaas Jan Huntelaar provided the highlight of the first half as the AFC Ajax forward slid in on 38 minutes to divert Daniël de Ridder's low cross from the right beyond Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard, and Thomas Kahlenberg the high point of the second as he gratefully fired the ball high into the empty Dutch net three minutes after the restart. Denmark now have two points to the Netherlands' one, although both countries retain hope of reaching the semi-finals when the pool concludes with respective matches against Ukraine and Italy on Monday.

Changes
The Netherlands coach Foppe de Haan responded to the 2-0 loss to Ukraine by making four changes, two of which saw Patrick Gerritsen and Ismaïl Aisatti introduced to a midfield criticised for a lack of industry on Wednesday. Opposite number Flemming Serritslev stuck with virtually the same team which had performed so impressively in the 3-3 draw against the holders Italy, Martin Bergvold coming in for Simon Poulsen as the Scandinavians switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2.

Great pass
As he had after coming on against Ukraine, Aisatti played immediately with an assuredness belying his 17 years. The PSV Eindhoven player showed plenty of neat touches, working well in tandem with Nicky Hofs, who instigated the Netherlands' first promising raid in the eighth minute with a superb outside-of-the-boot pass to Gerritsen down the left flank. The winger was able to look up and whip in a cross to Huntelaar only for Daniel Agger to step in and avert the danger. Denmark countered quickly, Nicklas Bendtner finding space before having a powerful shot charged down.

Counterattacking
A determined run from Agger, Paul Verhaegh's fizzing drive and Jonas Kamper's whipped cross into the corridor of uncertainty followed, although the first real action either goalkeeper saw came when each picked the ball out of the back of his net. Huntelaar's goal from five metres provided the perfect conclusion to a flowing move involving Hofs and De Ridder - a lead which lasted just ten minutes as the Netherlands' back four were caught cold by a long diagonal ball. The punt from defence fell to Jonas Kamper whose shot missed the target but not the unmarked Kahlenberg who made no mistake.

Bizarre
Denmark almost struck again with an identical move straight after, Kamper's cross-shot narrowly eluding Bendtner as the Arsenal FC teenager charged in. With control having shifted to the team in red, the Danes nearly handed it back on a plate as Leon Andreasen went close to scoring the most bizarre of headed own goals from Verhaegh's harmless cross; the defender's wry smile said it all. Denmark finished the stronger, yet only had a rasping drive from Bergvold and Morten 'Duncan' Rasmussen's half chance to show for their industry.

Carlsberg Man of the Match: Thomas Kahlenberg