Match Reports - Senior

Criticism has been levelled in the past at the at times porous Northern Ireland defence but tonight under the severest of pressure from an at times relentless Danish onslaught the rearguard held strong.

The Danes began the examination right from the start and might well have taken the lead after barely four minutes when Peter Lovenkrands headed wide when well placed.

Soon after a potentially troublesome Martin Jorgensen effort tested Maik Taylor followed swiftly by a Jon Dahl Tomasson chip.

Tomasson was involved in arguably the most clear cut scoring opportunity of the opening period on 17 minutes when his header from a Niclas Jensen cross flashed narrowly past an upright.

It wasn't all Denmark, though.

Northern Ireland did look dangerous on their rare excursions forward with Kyle Lafferty twice testing home keeper Thomas Sorensen as the first half approached it's conclusion.

However, all the previous good work was almost undone two minutes from the break when Taylor couldn't gather a Thomas Kahlenberg effort but thankfully young Jonny Evans was on hand to clear the ball to safety.

The host nation might have broken the deadlock early in the second half when Jorgensen sent a shot past the post but soon after David Healy almost struck a blow for the visitors when he shook off Daniel Agger to force Sorensen into a save.

At the other end Kahlenberg with another attempt which beat Taylor but not the upright while, with eight minutes remaining, Claus Jensen saw a goalbound shot headed safely away by Aaron Hughes.

As Northern Ireland tired the Danes continued to push forward but despite no less than six minutes of stoppage time they just could not find a way through.

The point sees Northern Ireland move into third spot in Group F after results elsewhere saw Sweden defeat Spain 2-0 and Latvia - our next opponents - knock four without reply past Iceland.

Denmark: Sorensen, Jacobsen, Gravgaard, Agger, N. Jensen, D. Jensen, Poulsen, Kahlenberg, Tomasson, Jorgensen, Lovenkrands subs Christiansen (replaced Sorensen 68), Bendtner (replaced N. Jensen 73), C. Jensen (replaced Lovenkrands 55), Helveg (not used), Laursen (not used), Wurtz (not used), Kristiansen (not used)