Northern Ireland lost out to Denmark by two goals to one in an international challenge match in Copenhagen tonight.
Michael O’Neill’s side took an early lead in the game at the Parken Stadium but a goal in added time in the first half and another midway through the second half proved to be decisive for the Danes.
Denmark netted all three goals in the friendly. Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored an own goal, while Gustav Isaksen and Christian Eriksen scored at the right end for the Danes.
O’Neill expected Denmark to play on the front foot at home – and they did that for most of the 90-plus minutes.
The Northern Ireland senior men’s team manager made seven changes from the team that lost to Sweden last time out.
In came Conor Hazard, Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, Daniel Ballard, Alistair McCann, Ethan Galbraith and Dion Charles, while Pierce Charles, Terry Devlin, Brodie Spencer, George Saville and Jamie Donley dropped to the bench. Defenders Paddy McNair and Ciaron Brown, who both played against Sweden, were not available due to injury.
Northern Ireland took the lead in the sixth minute when Hojbjerg inadvertently guided the ball past his own keeper.
A clearance from Danish defender Joachim Andersen was intercepted by Justin Devenny just outside the penalty area. He carried the ball forward for a few yards before delivering a deflected cross to the back post towards Shea Charles, who dived at the ball, however he failed to connect and instead it bounced off the top of Hojbjerg’s thigh past keeper Filip Jorgensen.
Denmark, playing in front of a boisterous crowd of just under 30,000, quickly went in search of an equaliser. Lively right winger Isaksen was constantly on the ball, probing and running hard at the Northern Ireland defence.
Veteran Danish midfielder Eriksen launched a couple of dangerous crosses into the area, but the Northern Ireland defence held firm. The back three of Daniel Ballard, captain Trai Hume and Ruairi McConville, ably supported by wing-backs Conor Bradley and Devenny, repelled a series of attacks.
Bradley showed some lovely footwork down the left flank before being upended just outside the area, however he fired the resulting free-kick well over the head of Ballard at the back post.
As half-time approached Eriksen chipped a free-kick to Andersen at the back post and his cross back into the six-yard box was headed clear by Hume.
Moments later, two minutes into added time, Denmark equalised. Mikkel Damsgaard slipped the ball to Isaksen in a central area just outside the penalty box. He took a touch and nudged the ball forward before superbly slotting it into the bottom corner from 17 yards.
After the break a dangerous Isaksen delivery was headed clear by McConville as Denmark, now with their tails up, kept up the pressure and dictated the play.
Pierce Charles, who came on at the start of the second half in place of the injured Hazard, got down well to push a Christian Norgaard header around the post.
Then Ballard and Bradley cleared efforts off the line in quick succession as the Danes continued to threaten. Ballard kept an Andersen header out, while Bradley hacked away Rasmus Kristensen’s follow-up effort.
Denmark took the lead on 67 minutes thanks to a flowing move. Isaksen was involved again as the Danes swept down the right flank. He whipped the ball across the area. Both Ballard and Hume got touches to it, but not enough to prevent it reaching Eriksen and he slotted it home.
Just after the goal Isaksen was terrorising the Northern Ireland defence again. He cut inside and unleashed a powerful drive which Charles pushed away.
Denmark had the ball in the net again, but substitute Mika Biereth’s effort was ruled out because another Danish player was offside in the build-up.
Isaksen forced another good save out of Charles with a rasping low drive and then the Northern Ireland keeper pushed away an Eriksen free-kick at the near post.
Isaac Price blasted a long range shot over the top before Charles made a fine double save down the other end. Firstly he thwarted a close range effort from Danish substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden before pushing away a follow-up shot from another sub, Morten Hjulmand.
Northern Ireland substitute Paul Smyth produced a trademark long throw into the area, but it was cleared by the Denmark defence.
And just before the final whistle Hume blocked a goal-bound effort from another Danish sub, Anders Dreyer.
Next up for Northern Ireland is a friendly against Iceland at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Denmark: Filip Jorgensen, Rasmus Kristensen, Joakim Maehle, Lucas Hogsberg, Joachim Andersen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (captain), Christian Eriksen, Christian Norgaard, Rasmus Hojlund, Mikkel Damsgaard, Gustav Isaksen.
Substitutes: (used) Jannik Vestergaard, Mathias Kvistgaarden, Mika Biereth, Matthew O’Riley, Morten Hjulmand, Anders Dreyer; (unused) Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Oliver Christensen (GK), Victor Froholdt, Kasper Dolberg, Patrick Dorgu, Anton Gaaei, Carlo Holse.
Northern Ireland: Conor Hazard, Conor Bradley, Trai Hume (captain), Daniel Ballard, Ruairi McConville, Alistair McCann, Ethan Galbraith, Justin Devenny, Dion Charles, Shea Charles, Isaac Price.
Substitutes: (used) Pierce Charles, George Saville, Jamie Donley, Brodie Spencer, Paul Smyth, Callum Marshall; (unused) Luke Southwood, Brad Lyons, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Ronan Hale, Terry Devlin, Lee Bonis, Aaron Donnelly, Dale Taylor.
Action from the Parken
